Not to bankrupt fishermen, but to discourage more fishing pressure. I think the lobster industry is it's own worst enemy and is simply making it harder for themselves. They're working zillions of traps with all the related gear, energy burned, growing an enormous bait industry, for less and less net pay, even as the catch goes up.

If they cut the traps back by half, I would bet the catch would not be cut by half, maybe 20%, or less. But the fishermen could end up netting more $/hour spent.