Why it matters
The mark persists through multiple molts, telling future fishermen and enforcement officers that the lobster is a proven breeder and should remain in the spawning population.
V-Notch
A V-shaped mark cut into a female lobster’s tail flipper to identify her as a protected breeder that must be released.
Definition
V-notching is the practice of cutting a small V into the tail flipper of an egg-bearing female before returning her to the water.
Conservation impact
GMRI highlights Maine’s protection of reproductive females as one of the reasons Gulf of Maine lobsters were more resilient to warming than Southern New England lobsters. V-notching is a simple, fishery-scale conservation measure with long-term population effects.
Quick facts
- Who gets marked
- Egg-bearing female lobsters
- Purpose
- Protect proven breeders after they release eggs
- Climate resilience role
- Supports reproductive capacity during warming
Related reading
The Future of Lobster Conservation: Challenges and Solutions
American lobster conservation faces a pivotal moment: the 2026 ASMFC Benchmark Stock Assessment found the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank stock has declined 34% since 2018 and overfishing is technically occurring, while southern New England populations remain at record lows. Here is what the science says about the challenges ahead and the conservation strategies that are working.