Certainly there is an increase in the size of vessels in some areas. The way that the lobster fishery is currently managed is by effort-based management, so the department limits the fishing season and the number of traps, as well as taking some measures around the specifics of the trap itself. It is still possible for a harvester—certainly in a situation of high abundance of lobster in the fishery especially—to have similar or even higher landings than in previous years even if they're using fewer traps. In the current management approach I think that is in fact what is going on. The abundance of lobsters is resulting in a higher catch per unit of effort in the fishery and, therefore, the landings are staying the same or increasing as a result.
On June 18th, 2013. See this statement in context.