Action 1: Minimum Conservation Sizes of Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus) Import Products into the United States

• Alternative 1 - Status Quo - Maintain the current regulations as they exist under the Caribbean FMP and the South Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico FMP. The regulations, which include minimum sizes and possession and handling requirements for egg bearing spiny lobster, pertain only to spiny lobster (P. argus) in or from the EEZs under the respective FMPs.

• Action 1:• Alternative 2 - No one in the Continental U.S. would be allowed to

import a spiny lobster (Panulirus argus):– 1. 3.0 inches (7.62 cm) or less carapace length if the animal is whole.– 2. Less than 5.5 inches (13.97 cm) tail length if only the tail is present.– 3. Less than 5 ounces tail weight (5 ounces is defined as a tail that

weighs 4.2 – 5.4 ounces).• In Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, no one would be allowed

to import a spiny lobster (Panulirus argus):– 1. Less than 3.5 inches (8.89 cm) carapace length if the animal is whole.– 2. Less than 6.2 inches (15.75 cm) tail length if only the tail is present.– 3. Less than 6.0 ounces tail weight (6 ounces is defined as a tail that

weighs 5.9 – 6.4 ounces).

• Action 1:• Alternative 3 - No person shall import into the

Continental U.S. and Caribbean U.S. imports that are smaller than the existing Continental U.S. minimum size limit. For example, no one in the Continental and Caribbean U.S. would be allowed to import a spiny lobster (Panulirus argus):– 1. 3.0 inches (7.62 cm) or less carapace length if the animal

is whole.– 2. Less than 5.5 inches (13.97 cm) tail length if only the tail

is present.– 3. Less than 5 ounces tail weight (5 ounces is defined as a

tail that weighs 4.2 – 5.4 ounces).

Action 2: Other Import Restrictions

Alternative 1 - Status Quo - Do not have other restrictions on the importation of spiny lobster.

Alternative 2 - Do not allow the importation of lobster tail meat without the exoskeleton attached; and do not allow the importation of spiny lobster with eggs attached or importation of spiny lobster where the eggs, swimmerets, or pleopods have been removed or stripped.