Lobster boats must have tracking devices in federal waters by May 2023

ASSOCIATED PRESS • April 1, 2022

Regulators are going to require lobster boats operating in federal waters to have tracking devices next year. The American Lobster Management Board voted Thursday to require lobstermen who fish far offshore in federal waters to transmit data showing their location. The tracking devices would record the location of the vessel while it is fishing, providing regulators with better data to get an idea of where in the ocean lobsters are located. Lobstermen aren’t thrilled.