"From Maine through North Carolina, American lobsters are managed under dual state and Federal regulatory authorities, whereby individual states manage the resource within their state waters (0-to-3 nautical miles from the shoreline) and the Federal government has primary jurisdiction over the resource in waters 3-to-200 nautical miles from the shoreline (also known as the Exclusive Economic Zone, or EEZ). Under the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (Atlantic Coastal Act or Act)1, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (Commission) prepares fishery management actions on an ongoing, as-needed basis, in consultation with the states and the Federal government. Once new measures are approved through the Commission process, states implement and enforce them. In turn, the Federal government is asked to implement management measures for the American lobster fishery that are consistent with and supportive of the actions of the Commission. Federal management of the American lobster fishery thus is largely, though not exclusively, influenced by the management recommendations of the Commission"--Executive summary.