sign in sign up
<<
Home , Lobster fishing

Winter 2014 lobsterinstitute.org The Bulletin

News, research updates and information on and the lobster 2013 Lobster Landings in Pending Canada/E.U. Trade Remain High Agreement May Provide Boost to Lobster Exports A preliminary report from Maine’s Department of Marine Resources indicates 2013 lobster landings in According to an article by Paul McLeod in the Maine will be the second highest on record at Chronicle Herald, nearly 95% of European 125,953,876 pounds. The value of these landings is tariffs will be eliminated from Canadian imports. This calculated at approximately $364 million, which is a $22 will greatly benefit the lobster processing industry as the million increase over 2012 and $30 million over 2011. approximately 18% tariff on lobster meat will be phased There were 4,239 active harvesters in the commercial out over five years. The Canadian live lobster exporters lobster last year. The 2013 average boat price per will also benefit from the elimination of an 8% tariff on pound increased by 20 cents over 2012 – from $2.69 to their product. $2.89. “While an increase in price per pound is a good Europe has been a relatively small percentage of the sign, it is still the second lowest since 1995, which market for Canadian lobster in the past few years, and underscores the importance of the efforts of the Maine seafood exports in general have been declining in the Lobster Marketing Collaborative,” said Patrick Keliher, past 5 years. The United States has always been the the commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine greatest importer, with gains seen in the past few years Resources.  in the Asia-Pacific markets of China, Japan and Hong Kong. McLeod quotes Council of Canada Mouth of the Penobscot River president Pat McGuiness as saying he believes the trade Closed to Lobster Fishing– deal with the European Union will reverse the trend of falling Canadian seafood exports to Europe. “With the Though Lobsters Still Safe to Eat elimination of the EU tariffs, I can see a lot of…shipments being re-diverted to the EU,” McGuiness On February 22, 2014 a small area at the mouth of said. “Russia and China are very lucrative markets but Maine’s Penobscot River was closed to lobster and they’re high-risk markets.” harvesting for a minimum of two years. “This closure is McLeod reported that the value of Canada’s seafood being taken as a precautionary measure in response to exports to Europe dropped 40% from 2007 to 2012 – information the Department of Marine Resources from $576 million to $343 million. However, he quotes (DMR) recently received about mercury contamination Lobster Council of Canada Executive Director Geoff in muscle tissue from lobsters found in this area,” said Irvine as saying, “In lobster, it’s been fairly consistent Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick for the southern part of Europe.” Yet, Irvine anticipates Keliher. the trade deal will benefit the entire seafood industry. The closed area extends from Wilson Point across to Fort Point, and north into the Penobscot River, and We hope you enjoy the refreshed look of The Lobster Bulletin. Remember, you can covers an area of only 7 square miles out of the more also receive the Bulletin by email. Contact than 14,000 square miles in the Gulf of Maine where us at [email protected] if you’d lobsters are harvested. like to receive the Bulletin electronically. cont. on page 4

The Lobster Institute 573 Rogers Hall, Room 210 * University of Maine * Orono, ME 04469-5763 * 207-581-2751 * Fax 207-581-2744 A unit of the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station The Lobster Bulletin ______2013 Friends of the Lobster Institute Annual donors and sponsors who generously supported the work of the Lobster Institute in calendar-year 2013.

OW & BS Look Co. Inc. David & Betty Heanssler As a non-profit, **SPONSORS** Mack Boring & Parts John Heyer the Lobster Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative Lilian & Victor Lo Bar Harbor Bank & Trust Institute relies on Ocean Marine Company David & Audrey Mills Camden National Bank industry and Ogunquit Lobster Pound Dr. Ray & Beverly Nichols Darden Restaurants Palombo Fishing Corp. Robert Olney private support to Downeast Lobstermen’s Assn. PEI Fishermen’s Assn. John & Gail Reeves continue its work East Coast Seafood/Paturel Int. Purse Line Bait Lt. Col. Pamela Solomon Reid for and with the Farm Credit of Maine Robert Beck Gallery & Academy LLC James & Derreth Roberts lobster fishery. Gorham Savings Bank Seaview Lobster Company David Sullivan Habitat Mooring Systems Small Point Impounding Corp. George Williams Mariner Beverages Please consider South Bristol Fisherman’s Co-op Maine Import/Export Lobster donating as a Southport Silver Dealers Assoc. **Associates $50 - $99** Friend of the South Shore Lobster Fishermen’s Assn. Riverdale Mills Corporation Lobster Institute Spruce Head Fishermen’s Co-op Russell Bodwell Univ. of Maine Credit Union today. Call 207- Swan’s Island Fishermen’s Co-op Peter & Celeste Bridgford, Jr. Third Addition /Lori Wilson Honorable Gene & Judy Carter 581-2751 or visit Joseph Day lobsterinstitute.org Richter Vernon d’Eon Lobster Plugs Ltd Kevin Downey INDUSTRY Western Gulf Fishermen’s Assn. Frederic Eustis Carol & Dr. Franklin Wills Robert & Patricia Ann Fischer **Benefactors** Michael & Monica Fournier $10,000+ Arthur Glowka **Others** Earl Hodgkins -- Albertson Family, LLC M. Perry Hunter **Partners** Aquatecnics, LLC Alvin McNeilly Mary & Thomas Kemper $5,000 - $9,999 Georgette Corporation Island Fishing Gear & Auto Parts Bryan & Deta Pearce -- D.J. King Lobster Maria Robertson

Lizotte Machine Vision John Sylvester, Jr. **Supporters** Lulu, Inc. – John & Colleen Nicolai David & Roberta Townsend $1,000 - $4,999 Sea View Lobster Corp. Paul Ward The Robertson Group Bottom Dollar, Inc. – Jack & **Friends $25 - $49** Erika Merrill Massachusetts Lobstermen's INDIVIDUALS Renee Mercaldo Allen Assn. Dolores Billings ** “Blue Lobster” League** Gordon Bok **Associates** $10,000+ David Brakke $500 - $999 -- Douglas Chapman Anne Covell Conary Cove Lobster Pound **Blackmore Federation** Warren & Shirley Gray Southern Maine Lobstermen’s Christian Haufler, Jr. Assn. $5,000 - $9,999 Robert & Alice Hawes Wire Belt Company of America -- Warner & Connie Hazell Michael Hogan **Friends $100 - $499** **Highliner Club** Louis & Edie King $1,000 - $4,999 Kavin & Virginia Moody R.B. Allen Associates – Richard Sandra Shumway Allen Cathy Billings Alan Steinbach Barnacle Billy’s George Holmes, DVM Eric & Marlene Taussig Bayley’s Lobster Pound, Inc. Tyler H. Thompson Boston Lobster Company Catherine H. Van Poznak & John D. Kiley Brooks Trap Mill **Heritage Guild $500 - $999** Thomas Yazwinski Bruce C. Heanssler Lobster Bob Bayer Company Note: Bruce W. Fernald Inc. Annette & Robert Leckie If we inadvertently left anyone out or Cranberry Isles Fishermen's incorrectly listed your name, please notify us Co-op **Shoal Society $100 - $499** and we will make a correction in the next issue F/V Rebecca & Heather, Inc. Linda & Tom Archambault F.W. Thurston Co., Inc. Ed & Mary Blackmore Frank & Brinna Sands George Brennan Foundation Susan Bruce & Rick Hauck Friendship Trap Co., Inc..

Hamilton Marine, Inc. Richard Cassola Island Seafood, LLC John P. Cronin

Tom & Paula Colwell Lobster Products, Inc. , Bill & Georgia Fike Herb & Pat Hodgkins Anne Funderburk Company

______RESEARCH REPORT DMR’s Status of the Lobster Fishery as Two Methods for Determining the Fertility reported at the Maine Fishermen’s Forum: Status of Early-Stage Eggs: Carl Wilson, a lobster biologist with the Maine (Excerpts from the 2011 abstract by Kirby Johnson, J. Department of Marine Resources, updated attendees at Goldstein and W. Watson.) One key piece of information the Maine Fishermen’s Forum on the status of the provided in various biological monitoring programs and lobster resource as depicted by surveys and studies surveys that guide the development of management conducted in 2013. The following are notes from that plans is the number of females that are carrying eggs. session : “A major assumption is that all eggs carried by Landings – Preliminary data shows 2013 landings ovigerous females are fertilized and will thus result in remain near record highs at 125,953,876 pounds. viable recruits. However, because some lobsters Settlement – A yearly settlement index has shown a extrude, and briefly carry, unfertilized eggs, this decline in settlement in the past two-three years in most assumption needs to be re-evaluated. In particular it is lobster zones in Maine. Settlement data is used as a important to determine the approximate proportion of possible indicator of landings five to seven years out newly extruded eggs that are either fertilized or not.” from the date of collection. This trend indicates a This study was aimed at developing reliable methods for potential decline in landings through 2018, particularly determining if early-stage lobster eggs (live and in zones A-D. preserved) were in fact fertilized. “One method involved V-Notch – During sea sampling, the percentage of egg- using a nucleic acid stain to visualize egg DNA, after bearing lobsters brought up in traps that have a v-notch pretreatment with a proteolytic and collagenolytic has decreased from 82% in 2008 to 61% in 2013. enzyme solution… With this method multi-nucleated According to Wilson, “This is not what we want to see,” (fertilized) eggs could be clearly distinguished from for modeling and assessment purposes. unfertilized eggs. A total of 20 egg clutches were tested. Shell Disease – The percent incidence of shell disease in Of these 16 (80%) were fertilized while 4 (20%) were lobsters has seen a slight increase in western areas, with not. Of the 16 clutches with fertilized eggs, 2 had a mix just over 4% reported in Zone G; 3% in Zone F; and of both fertilized and unfertilized eggs. A second approximately 1/75% in Zone E. All other zones remain method, using fluorometry to obtain measurements of below 1%. Comparatively, Rhode Island typically sees a total egg DNA, was also developed. There was a 30-40% incidence rate. Wilson indicated that shell significant difference between the total DNA disease is seen more frequently in older, larger lobsters. concentration in unfertilized control oocytes and early- This includes the older v-notched lobsters, which are stage fertilized eggs (P<0.001) and the total amount of “just the population we are trying to protect.” He noted DNA gradually increased as eggs developed (r=0.961, that some lobstermen dispose of shell diseased lobsters P<0.0001). Both of these methods will make a more they catch, but he discouraged that practice. accurate assessment of the proportion of female lobsters that will actually contribute new recruits to the fishery.” Lobster Grip Study: As reported in the Summer 2013 (Full article in the Journal of Biology, 31(4): 693- Lobster Bulletin, students at the University of Maine 700, 2011) have been working with the Lobster Institute to develop a novel method for measuring lobster viability for shipping. The greater the serum protein value the longer the distance the lobster can be shipped. Currently, a blood sample is drawn and a serum protein measurement is made with a refractometer (Leavitt and Bayer, 1977) to help determine viability. For the new method, the assumption is that muscle mass, as indicated by claw

closing strength, would correlate to serum protein. A load cell was constructed by a student Tom McKay and UMaine Professor of Mechanical Engineering Michael Peterson to measure the closing force of lobster claws. The technique showed high correlation to serum protein in tests conducted by UMaine Animal Veterinary Sciences students, Zoe Kreitzer and Matt Hodgkin. Measuring lobster grip strength Trials in the fall of 2013 indicated that using a prototype load cell.

Penobscot River Lobsters management action is warranted at that time, including cont. from page 1 whether the closed area can be re-opened or should remain closed.”  The DMR indicates that, “lobsters from within the closed area are still safe to eat, but the State Toxicologist advises that sensitive populations limit their 2014 consumption of lobsters from this area.” CANADIAN/U.S Information on the DMR’s website indicates the LOBSTERMEN’S TOWN MEETING standard used when deciding to issue the advisory is as We are all in this together! follows, “The level of mercury in fin fish that warrants Hosted by the consideration of a consumption advisory by the Maine Center for Disease Control for the most sensitive population is 200 nanograms (a billionth of a gram) of methylated mercury per gram of tissue. At that level, no more than one 8 ounce meal per week for pregnant and nursing women, and children under age 8 is The Lobster Institute was joined by the Atlantic Lobster th recommended. Two average size whole lobsters would Su stainability Foundation in hosting the 11 annual yield approximately 8 ounces of meat. There is currently Canadian/U.S. Lobstermen’s Town Meeting in Portland, no lobster-specific action level and therefore the State Maine on March 21 and 22. Topics discussed included:

Toxicologist and DMR used the fin fish action levels in  Aiming for a consistent catch making a determination for this action.” DMR added  Marketing that, “Further monitoring will be conducted to gain  Sustainability & meeting global demand additional information both inside and outside of the  Handling for quality & dockside grading closure area. The goal will be to better understand  Plus lots of time for open discussion mercury in impacted species. DMR, DEP and CDC will A full transcript of the Town Meeting will be posted on be working together to conduct seasonal monitoring on the Lobster Institute’s Web site www.lobsterinstitute.org mercury levels in lobsters and . The study will aim and a report will appear in the next Lobster Bulletin. to determine, after two years, whether any further

Protecting and conserving the lobster resource, and enhancing lobstering as an industry and a way of life.

The Lobster Bulletin The Lobster Bulletin is made possible through an endowed gift by Published by the Lobster Institute Helene and Frank Crohn. Cathy Billings, editor [email protected]