Marine StationCommunity - University Research for Recovery Alliance
Lobster Reproductive Value and Sustainability
- Calculate the reproductive value of lobsters in Newfoundland at each age and size throughout a lobster's life;
- Identify if differences exist in lobster size, growth, and mortality in locations throughout Newfoundland down to the southern end of the lobster's range (Virgina, USA);
- Identify the largest and smallest sizes of lobster that can be harvested to maximize reproductive value relative to landed value;
- Estimate the spatial scale at which small closed areas increase reproductive value of lobster populations; and
- Promote stewardship on the science basis of reproductive value relative to economic value.
At present, rising fuel and equipment costs, low prices, and retirements are threatening to undermine the collective ability and willingness of harvesters to continue to make investments in stewardship, thereby increasing the need for evidence of economic and biological effectiveness of conservation initiatives.
Funding provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
Researchers and Partners
Lead Researcher:
David Schneider
Other researcher:
Kate Wilke
Research associate:
Cailin Xu
Students:
Jens Currie, M.Sc. Candidate, Biology
Jamie Raper, M.Sc. Candidate, Biology
Cathy Whiffen, B.Sc. Honours, Biology
Community Partners:
Harvey Jarvis, Jason Spingle, and Monty Way
Fish Food & Allied Workers Union (FFAW)
Material
Distribution and Abundance of American Lobster in Coastal Newfoundland, Passive and Active Processes
Victoria Burdett-Coutts (2010). M.Sc. thesis, Biology Department, Memorial University of Newfoundland.
The effects of v-notching on reproductive potential in American lobsters (Homarus americanus) in Newfoundland
An article by Kathryn Goetting, adapted from a thesis by Cathy Whiffen in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Science (Honours) at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Lobsters in Western Newfoundland: Reproductive Relative to Economic Value - Community Consultation and Follow-up
April 6-8, 2011A presentation by David Schneider, Professor of Ocean Science at Memorial University.
Lobsters in Western Newfoundland: Reproductive Relative to Economic Value
November 5, 2010A presentation by David Schneider, Professor of Ocean Science at Memorial University.
Lobster Sustainability Measures in Newfoundland: Are They Effective?
A poster by Jennica Seiden, David Schneider, and Kate M. Wilke.
Lobster Sustainability Measures in Newfoundland: Are They Effective?
A summary report compiled by Jennica Seiden, Kate M. Wilke, and David Schneider.
Latitudinal variation in growth rates of American lobster (Homarus americanus) at the scale of the commercial range
July 2011An article by Kate M. Wilke, adapted from a thesis by Jamie Lee Dawn Raper in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Closed-areas as a conservation tool: the effect on size of American lobster (Homarus americanus) in Newfoundland
Benthic Ecology Meeting, March 2010A poster presentation by Kate M. Wilke and Jennifer Janes.
An investigation into different sampling techniques and geographic variation in size-fecundity parameters of the American lobster, H. americanus
October 2010An article by Kate M. Wilke, adapted from a thesis by Jens Jacob Currie in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science at Memorial University of Newfoundland.
Published Articles
Currie, J.J., Schneider, D.C., Wilke, K.M. (2010) Validation of a noninvasive technique for estimating fecundity in the American lobster Homarus americanus. Journal Of Shellfish Research 29: 1021-1024. (link to abstract)
Currie, J.J., Schneider, D.C. (2011) Spatial scaling from latitudinal gradients: Size-specific fecundity in the American lobster Homarus americanus. Marine Ecology Progress Series 439: 193-201. (link to abstract)
Xu, C., Schneider, D.C. (2012) Efficacy of conservation measures for the American lobster: Reproductive values a criterion. ICES Journal of Marine Science. (link to abstract)
Photos
Project Funders
Major CURRA Funders
