Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission: American Lobster Maturity Assessment Project
Project description:
Increases in water temperatures over the past several decades have likely resulted in changes to lobster size at maturity and growth patterns, given temperature has a strong influence on these vital processes. Maturity data used in the 2015 Benchmark Stock Assessment are more than 20 years old, making it likely that changes have since occurred. It is critical to collect updated information on maturity in order to appropriately assign molt probabilities to lobsters in the assessment models.
project team:
Aubrey Ellertson, CFRF Research Associate
Fiona Hart, CFRF Summer Intern
Jesica Waller, Maine Department of Marine Resources
Tracy Pugh, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
project Components:
Coordinate the collection of female lobsters by the CFRF Lobster and Jonah Crab Research Fleet, focusing on offshore waters in southern New England
Dissect lobsters at Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries to estimate maturity by ovarian staging
Collect and analyze photos of lobster oocytes
participating Vessels:
F/V Lady Clare, Point Judith, RI
F/V Excalibur, Newport, RI
F/V Direction, Fairhaven, MA
ARTICLES:
"Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Annual report 2019"-ASMFC Annual Report 2019, pg. 16
results
