The Quest for Lobster Stock Boundaries in the Canadian
NOT TO BE CITED WITHOUT PRIOR REFERENCE TO THE AUTHOR(S) Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Serial No. N615 NAFO SCR Doc. 82/IX/107 FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING - SEPTEMBER 1982 The Quest for Lobster Stoclg Boundaries in the Canadian Maritimes by A. Camp ell and R. K. Mohnl Invertebrates and Marine Plants Division Fisheries Research Branch, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Biological Station, St. Andrews, N. B., Canada EOG 2X0 P. O. Box 550, H lifax, N. S., Canada B3J 2S7 Abstract Historical and recent datO on lobsters (Homarus americanus) from the Canadian maritimes were examin4d for stock differences with the object of defining lobster population bot ndaries. Using pattern recognition techniques, historical lobster landings (1892-1981) from 32 areas resulted in grouping the landing trends into 7-8 areas. Examination of morphometrics data, landing trends, population parameters (growth and size at aturity), movement of tagged lobsters, and general surface currents that might indicate larval drift, suggested the following general lobster stock areas: Western maritimes which included the Bay of Fundy, inshore and possibly offshore) southwestner Nova Scotia (to Shelburne Co.), The Eastern Coast of Nova Scotia (Queens to Cape Breton Counties) which seems to be a transition zone f,r lobsters between the Gulf of Maine and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and 3. Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence STOCK DISCRI INATION SYMPOSIUM Key words: Homarus americanus; lobsters; stocks; population dynamics; morphonietrics; landing statistics; electrophoresis; recruitment; tagging; movement. General Introduction Historically, there have been various debates amongst biologists, fishery managers, and fishermen as to the geographic discreteness of lobster (Homarus americanus) populations on the Atlantic Coast of North America (eg.
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