FAQs
V-notching: a tradition of Stewardship & Sustainability
What is v-notching?
V-notching is the careful practice of marking and releasing egg-bearing female lobsters. Lobstermen cut a v-shape in the center right tail flipper of the lobster and release it back to the ocean. Lobsters with a notch in the tail cannot be harvested, even when the eggs have dropped off, allowing females to reproduce multiple times to support a healthy lobster resource.
Maine has the most strict "zero tolerance" standard of v-notch which requires the lobster to be release if there is any mark or imperfection in the flipper. In other states, notches that are 1/8" or larger are illegal to harvest.
J. Bray Photo.
Why is v-notching important?
V-notching boosts the lobster population by allowing egg bearing females to remain in the ocean. Research shows
V-notched lobsters produce 9 times more eggs than
un-notched lobsters.
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Less than 1% of lobster eggs survive to maturity, so having more egged females in the water provides an important safeguard for the population.
G. Cushman Photo.
Do lobstermen have to do it?
Yes. It's the law. While v-notching was a voluntary practice for many decades, in 2002 V-notching became a mandatory conservation method. All egg-bearing lobsters must be V-notched and immediately returned to the water.
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It is illegal to possess a female lobster with a notched or a mutilated tail.
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Lobstermen face fines for non-compliance.
Kathleen Reardon Photo.
Does it hurt the lobster?
No! There have been many studies showing that
v-notching is not harmful to lobsters.
MLMC Photo.
How long does a
v-notch last?
Lobsters grow by molting. With each molt, a v-notch becomes less prominent when the lobster forms a new shell. Under Maine's zero-tolerance rule any mark, regardless of size, on the lobster's center right tail flipper is illegal to possess. Under Maine's zero tolerance standard, a V-notch will protect a lobster for at least three molts. Many are then protected under Maine's oversize measure.