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PROGRAM & ABSTRACTS PROGRAM & ABSTRACTS

11th International Conference & Workshop on Biology and Management

Portland, Maine, USA | June 4 – 9, 2017

(photo: RW) ICWL Celebrates its 40th year! From: Rick Wahle and Kari Lavalli For the first time in US Northeast, the University of Maine and Boston University hosted the 11th ICWL in Portland, Maine, June 4-9th, 2017, on the shores of some of the most productive lobster grounds on the planet! We welcomed 257 attendees from 14 countries. The Holiday Inn by the Bay in downtown Portland proved to be the perfect central venue to take advantage of the city’s many restaurants and waterfront activities. This year marked the 40th anniversary since the first ICWL gathered a cozy group of 35 in Perth Australia in 1977. Bruce Phillips ( Fisheries) and Stan Cobb of (University of Rhode Island) organized that first meeting. It was their vision to assemble scientists, fishery managers and industry members with common interests in the biology and management of of all stripes. We stand on their shoulders, a legacy of prolific scientific contributions and a virtual army of students who have gone on make significant contributions in their own right. This year’s ICWL convened in recognition of the career of Jelle Atema (Boston University) who attended that first ICWL and retires this year after a long, productive and even musical career! Most notably, a distinguishing feature of the 11th ICWL was the large

The Lobster Newsletter Volume 30, Number 2: November 2017 1 VOLUME THIRTY DECEMBER 2017 NUMBER TWO number of new and young faces, with a huge increase in the number of female researchers. This bodes well for the future of lobster research and this conference. Introduced by UMaine president, Susan Hunter, US Senator Angus King officially opened the meeting. His remarks underscored the need for the scientists who study these important creatures to disseminate their findings to help guide policy makers in their work. “Tell us how climate change will affect local economies and what we as policy makers need to do about it!” was his plea to energize the research community. During the week, five plenary speakers led off the major themes: Jelle Atema (Boston University) gave an overview of the arc of his career using the as a model in research on behavior and neurophysiology. Paulo Prodohl̈ (Queens College Belfast, Northern Ireland) used his work with the European lobster to illustrate the power of molecular genetics in fishery science. Malin Pinsky (Rutgers University, USA) used large-scale data sets on the distribution and abundance of benthic , such as lobster, to illustrate the concept of “climate velocity,” the rate of poleward range shifts of marine species in a warming , and the consequences for coastal communities. Bob Steneck (University of Maine) warned of “the gilded trap” so clearly manifest in the economies of Maine and Atlantic Canada which rely so heavily on the lobster fishery. Finally, Mark Edwards ( Rock Lobster Industry Council) spoke to the benefits of industry-science-manager collaboration in ensuring the sustainability of their lobster fisheries. In the sessions that followed, we had 157 oral presentations and 49 posters. At this writing, some 47 manuscripts are in review for the conference proceedings to appear in a special issue of the Bulletin of Marine Science in the spring of 2018. Although the week started on the chilly and gray side, the sun came out as if on command for the mid-week outings. Wednesday afternoon excursions ranged from kayaking in Casco Bay, to an LL Bean shopping spree in Freeport, to a Portland Brew Bus tour, a guided tour of the Ready Co. plant, and as far afield as a boat tour of UMaine’s Darling Marine Center and Damariscotta River farms further down the coast. Then, after Thursday’s Industry Day, we capped off the evening by crossing Casco Bay on the ferry for a traditional outdoor Maine lobster bake on Peaks Island with volley ball to boot. The conference closed Friday evening with a farewell reception with savory appetizers and music at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s waterfront facility in Portland. Whether spiny or clawed, lobsters are iconic world-wide in no small part because of their commercial importance. While the large clawed lobsters may compirse the most productive lobster fisheries, the spiny and fisheries are by far the most widespread and diverse globally. Some have become poster-children in their parts of the word for changing marine ecosystems. Although we did not formally declare a theme for the 11th ICWL, if we did, we might call it “Lobsters-at-a-Cross-Roads,” because in 2017 we find ourselves at a cross-roads of unparalleled uncertainty. To be sure, climate change, overfishing and disease are central, long-standing issues. For the fishing industry, there is also the rising cost of the business of lobstering, and the opportunities and challenge of expanding global trade with Asia. In another corner we even see lobster as an invasive species! And now, at least in the , the very future of government support and leadership in scientific research on climate and fisheries is hanging in the balance. The uncertainties are also generational. As the fishing fleet ages, what does the future hold for the next generation? From Down-under to Downeast, it all begs the question, how do we confront the challenges facing the next generation of fishermen, scientists, and policy makers? Our hope is that at this 11th ICWL was a small step in addressing those

The Lobster Newsletter Volume 30, Number 2: November 2017 2 VOLUME THIRTY DECEMBER 2017 NUMBER TWO challenges. One advantage we should not underestimate: the iconic status of lobster as a powerful tool, a model organism, to study and communicate the prospects and perils of the new world we face. The Holiday Inn by the Bay in downtown Portland proved to be the perfect centrally located venue to take advantage of the city’s many restaurants and waterfront activities. Although the week started on the chilly and grey side, the sun came out as if on command for the mid-week outings. Wednesday afternoon excursions ranged from a Portland Brew Bus tour, a guided tour of the Ready Seafood Co. plant, and a boat tour of UMaine’s Darling Marine Center and Damariscotta River oyster farms further down the coast. Then, after Thursday’s Industry Day, we capped off the evening by crossing Casco Bay on the ferry for a traditional outdoor Maine lobster bake on Peaks Island with volley ball to boot. Jelle Atema even treated us to a lobster claw flute demo. The conference closed Friday evening with a farewell reception at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s waterfront facility in Portland, sporting both savory appetizers and music. We now look forward to the 12th ICWL in 2020 to be hosted again in Perth, Australia, this time by Nick Caputi of Western Australia Fisheries, and Matt Taylor of the Western Rock Lobster Council. In closing, we express deep gratitude to our steering committee and subcommittees for all their hard work. Particular thanks are due to Curt Brown (Ready Seafood Co.) who, with the help of Patrice McCarron (Maine Lobstermen’s Association), organized Industry Day and gave the tour of Ready Seafood’s waterfront facilities. And a huge thank you to our sponsors, chief among them Maine Department of Marine Resources, Ready Seafood Co., New Zealand Rock Lobster Industry Council, Massachusetts Department of Marine Fisheries, the Northeast Regional Sea Grant Consortium, Boston University, the University of New England, and the University of Maine’s Office of Research. And finally, we thank all of our section editors who have been working hard in ushering the submitted papers through the review process for our proceedings.

See you in Perth in 2020!

Many thanks,

Rick Wahle & Kari Lavalli Co-chairs, 11th ICWL

Sunset over Casco Bay, Maine, from Peaks Island, the site of the 11th ICWL lobster bake. (photo: C. Davies)

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PROGRAM & ABSTRACTS PROGRAM & ABSTRACTS

a historical review of the work on the tuning 11th ICWL properties of both “taste” (mouthparts and walking legs) and “smell” (antennules) of the SESSION American lobster americanus. He then reviewed work on odor plumes because

SUMMARIES the way odor disperses in the marine environment is important for understanding Behavior, Neurobiology, & Behavioral Ecology……4 how the lobster may or may not detect Diseases & Parasites……………………………….9 chemical signals that would lead to changes Population Genetics & Connectivity……………..11 in their behavior. This is not easy by any Reproductive Biology……………………………..14 means because visualizing odor dispersal in Recruitment Processes, Population Dynamics & nature is extremely complicated. Thus, Connectivity………………………………………16 experimenters should be cognizant of the Environmental Stressors & Climate Change……..19 environment in which they “test” for Industry Day: Industry-Science Collaborations….21 behavior, the odor signals that are present in Industry Day: Adaptive Harvesting & those environments, and the possible Management Strategies…………………………...23 dispersal of those odor signals, before trying Fisheries Science…………………………………..25 to explain why a lobster behaved in the Aquaculture…………………………………….…28 manner observed. Trap Design & Impacts…………………………...29 Caribbean Stock Assessment………30

ICWL Session: Behavior, Neurobiology, and Behavioral Ecology

Chairs: Ehud Spanier, Winsor Watson III, and Kari L. Lavalli

Behavior, Neurobiology, and Behavioral Ecology occupied a full day of talks and opened with a keynote address by Dr. Jelle Atema of Boston University’s Marine Program. Jelle, who was one of the original attendees at the first ICWL, reminded the

audience that, when considering the biology Jelle Atema demonstrates the lobster claw flute. of any , it is important to understand (photo: RW). its sensory systems and the environment in which those sensory systems must operate. Following the keynote address, the first As lobsters are aquatic , primarily session focused on Behavior and active during dusk to dawn where vision will Neurobiology. Chuck Derby (Georgia State play less of a role, understanding how their University, USA) contrasted the senses of smell and taste work is critical to chemoreceptor proteins making up receptors understanding their behavior. He presented

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in vertebrates and invertebrates, and then Following the focus on chemoreceptive described how chemoreception in abilities of lobsters, the session shifted to an is broken into olfaction and understanding of movement patterns of distributed chemoreception, each of which is lobsters. A number of talks focused on the mediated by specific sensory sensilla, and use of ultrasonic telemetry to track the each of these sensilla are tuned differently. movements of lobsters. David Diaz Both olfactory and distributed (Instituto Español de Oceanografia,, Spain) chemoreception sensilla detect amino acids, presented acoustic tagging data on the amines, nucleotides and other chemicals in elusive Mediterranean slipper lobster, food; however, only olfactory sensilla are latus. His goal was to try to tease tuned to signals important for conspecific apart why these lobsters disappear from signaling (mating, alarm cues, aggregation, monitoring studies in winter months. The aggression, etc.). This difference appears to data obtained indicated that rather than be the result of antennules (the olfactory moving into deeper waters during winter organ) having many more ionotropic months, slipper lobsters remained in their glutamate receptors (IRs) than the walking home range, but moved deeper into cave legs. Robert Major (University of Aukland, shelters, perhaps in an effort to exploit the New Zealand) presented laboratory work on higher temperatures within these caves. They how New Zealand scampi, then reduced activity patterns to a torpor-like challengeri, respond to different bait odors state. He suggested that incorporating caves and odor regimes (laminar vs turbulent into management areas and protected areas flow). Conclusions from these studies is important for conserving the species. suggest that scampi are highly efficient at Steve Jury (Saint Joseph’s College, USA) locating odor sources in turbulent flow, that argued that accelerometers, if properly they prefer oily fish, and that amino acid calibrated via laboratory studies on profiles are more important for search individual species, could be used to behavior than concentrations. Erica Ross simultaneously capture both the timing of (University of Florida, Gainesville, USA) activity (percent of time active during day examined the effects of extreme and night periods) and intensity of activity environmental events that alter salinity (distance travelled). He then demonstrated levels, temperature, and/or pH on “typical” with the American lobster how one could use Caribbean spiny lobster argus accelerometers and video data to calibrate aggregation behavior. In experiments accelerometer data and then used this contrasting normal seawater conditions with calibration to determine activity patterns and high salinity, high pH, or high temperature, distance moved of lobsters in the field. Data spiny lobsters decreased their sheltering recovered with this technique corresponded behavior with healthy conspecifics, did not well with other published methods. Acoustic significantly avoid lobsters infected with tags with passive telemetry receivers set out PaV-1, and did not avoid competitors. She in a variety of grids (tracking and emigration) proposed that the altered behavior may be were used by Rodney Bertelsen (Florida Fish due to changes in the chemoreception and Wildlife Conservation Commission, abilities of lobsters exposed to extreme USA) to investigate the movement patterns environmental conditions. and sheltering preferences of various life- stages of Caribbean spiny lobsters. Juveniles

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tended to have short-distance movements slipper lobsters when their ability to cling to around their dens, with only a few inshore, complex habit is reduced. individuals changing their locations and denning areas. In contrast, while adults had The Behavioral Ecology session continued clear activity and movement patterns, as well the focus on lobster movements, then shifted as homing ability back to dens inhabited the to substrate choices and risks. Eric previous day, they also changed shelters Bjorkstedt (NOAA Southwest Fisheries frequently and therefore had much more Science Center, USA) opened the session by random movements, which contrasted with examining how an individual based model of sub-adults that seemed to be more Homarus americanus movement, tied to unidirectional in their movement patterns. bathymetry and bottom temperature, could Finally, berried females conducted multi-day be used to infer the movements of two reproductive movements to deeper waters to ovigerous female lobsters that had release and then returned to their dens. previously been fitted with archival tags for Ehud Spanier (University of Haifa, Israel) ~ 10 months during brooding. The closed the session presenting the first known model generated thousands of potential stranding data on slipper lobsters, Scyllarides paths that were ranked by how well a latus, and suggested that such strandings are particular path followed the tagged lobster’s daily depth and temperature exposure and therefore, under the proper circumstances, could be useful in inferring movements of marine organisms without having to track each individual. Patricia Hanley (University of New Brunswick, Canada) used this individual based model, combined with archival depth/temperature tags placed on two ovigerous Americanlobsters, to predict the rules that influence lobster movements. The model closely followed the actual movement data and demonstrated that female lobsters move to deeper waters when shallow waters begin to cool during brooding, most likely to increase growing degree days. Josh Carloni (New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game and University of New Hampshire, USA) presented data showing that American lobsters, like spiny lobsters, appear to move to new locations right before their eggs hatch.

In the case of American lobsters, they move Ehud Spanier dismantles his dinner.(photo: RW) to deeper water, where the prevailing

currents are also a bit stronger, presumably rare as they require a severe storm event that so their larvae are released in an area that occurs during the onshore movement of facilitates dispersal and survival. Martial

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Laurans (IFEMER, France) used traditional at night and also was higher in the summer tag/recapture methods to demonstrate that than in the fall, reflecting both diel and once reach sexual seasonal behavioral changes. maturity, they are capable of some very long migrations along the coast of France. The final session focused on predation and Interestingly, like many American lobsters social behavior. Graham Sherwood (Gulf of that have been tracked in waters off New Maine Research Institute, USA) presented England, USA, most of them move in the two mesocosm studies examining how same direction as the dominant prevailing lobsters alter shelter use when predators are currents (west in France, south in NE). Jason present. One of these studies was in a large Goldstein (Wells National Estuarine lobster pound where Atlantic cod Gadus Research Reserve, USA) used traditional morhua were introduced; here the cod mark-recapture methods as well as influenced the amount of time sheltering, as temperature and depth data loggers placed well as the percent of time spent foraging. In on animals in the field and activity loggers a smaller mesocosm study, both cod and sea placed on laboratory specimens in running raven Hemitripterus americanus increased the wheels to demonstrate that slipper lobsters, amount of time spent sheltering, but striped , increase their expression of bass Morone saxatilis did not have an effect on daily activity patterns and movements in lobster behavior. This suggests that response to increases in thermal gradients. responses to predators might be more These movements may result in lobsters dependent on the predator’s feeding leaving inshore regions for more stable, modality rather than by its mere presence. cooler temperatures in deeper waters during Marissa McMahon (Northeastern the hot summer months. University, USA) examined how range expansion in predators may have profound While adult American lobsters are capable of effects on lobsters, given that exposure moving long distances to their preferred history may be required for appropriate habitats, juvenile lobsters do not have this behavioral responses in the presence of luxury and, despite preferences for settling in predators. She exposed three sets of lobsters cobble, it is relatively sparse in some areas (Massachusetts, mid-coast Maine, downeast compared to sand and mud. Kristin Dinning Maine) to black sea bass (Centropristis striata); (University of New Brunswick, Canada) two of these sets of lobsters had prior presented data suggesting that even though experience with the predatory fish while one the density of juvenile lobsters is generally has not had much opportunity to interact lower on sand/mud bottom, these habitats with them. Both Massachusett and mid-coast should not be ignored in estimating Maine lobsters significantly increased shelter populations of juvenile lobsters because usage, decreased foraging trips, and those substrates are often the dominant decreased prey handling time in response to habitat in some areas. Hence, when the presence of black sea bass, but downeast determining benthic recruitment, large Maine lobsters did not. This study suggests densities of YOY on sparse cobble habitat that as predators begin moving due to may be equivalent to small densities of YOY warming waters, lack of familiarity with such on extensive mud/sand flats. Furthermore, predators may significantly impact lobster density of juveniles on mud/sand increased populations. Andrew Allyn (Gulf of Maine

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Research Institute, USA) expanded on degradation on two species of spiny lobster: shifting predator distributions by modeling one an obligate dweller, P. gutatus, and expected predator shifts for predators the other a habitat generalist, P. argus. In ranging from traditional groundfish to mid- comparisons between two reefs, one Atlantic elasmobranchs. Such shifts could degraded and one architecturally complex, have important implications for how natural lobster blood refractive indices, mortality is calculated in stock assessment hepatosomatic indices, and weight/CL ratio models. Kaitlyn Lowder (University of did not differ for the reef obligate, but stable – , USA) added an isotope values (d13C and d15N) did. The additional wrinkle by presenting a study on obligate reef dweller incorporated more high various regions of the (dorsal value foods in the degraded reef than in the , rostral horn, base) of the complex reef, likely to compensate for the P. interruptus that degradation. In contrast, for the habitat provided baseline data on microstructure, generalist species, none of the variables composition, and hardness. She then differed between the reefs, which is likely a subjected lobsters to low pH conditions that result of greater foraging distances. were either stable, or fluctuated greatly, or had low amounts of fluctuation. Her preliminary data suggested that conditions of fluctuating but low pH would result in a weakening of these regions of the carapace and thus would affect the lobster’s ability to withstand attacks from predators.

The final two talks concerned the Caribbean spiny lobster. Michael Childress (Clemson University, USA) presented data showing that conspecific attraction has declined in Experimental lobsters. (Photo: RW) Florida Bay. Laboratory studies suggested that this was not due to changes in aggression What are the next questions? While many of the levels, frequency of den sharing, or substrate presentations investigated why and when . Field studies suggested that substrate lobsters move, this is an area that deserves composition was more important than more attention. We need to know more about shelter or conspecific density and that den the environmental cues that lobsters can fidelity played a strong role rather than a detect and how they respond to them. We preference for sheltering with conspecifics. have a fairly good understanding of this for Thus, while conspecific attraction might be temperature, but this knowledge is only declining, other factors, especially den based on studies with mature lobsters and fidelity, may cause lobsters to aggregate at not juveniles or reproductive females. typical frequencies seen over the past several Moreover, we know little about the ability to decades. Enrique Lozano-Álvarez sense changes in water depth or magnetic (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de fields, both of which could clearly play an México, ) presented data looking at important role in movements. We also need the nutritional consequences of coral reef to have a better of understanding of how lobsters respond to predators – those with

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which they are familiar and those that they inform the people who manage the fisheries. have never seen before – so that we can better Importantly, this includes training the future predict the impacts that range expansion of scientists who will need to carry on this work. predators will have on lobster populations. Finally, understanding how habitat Kari Lavalli degradation might affect different lobster Division of Natural Sciences & Mathematics species is important as it may have Boston University consequences for lobster foraging behavior 871 Commonwealth Avenue that could also affect movement patterns and Boston, MA 02215 USA dispersal patterns. email: [email protected] or [email protected]

What do policy makers need to know? First, Win Watson, III despite all we know about various lobster University of New Hampshire species, we still have a difficult time 46 College Road assessing their abundance, in part, because Durham, NH, USA they are so mobile. If we can’t track changes Email: [email protected] in the population, we cannot adequately manage lobster fisheries. And, in some cases, we may make unsupported assumptions ICWL Session: Diseases & about how we should monitor abundance, as illustrated by Dinning and Rochette with the Parasites American lobster. Studies such as theirs need to be integrated into existing monitoring Session chairs: Grant Stentiford, Donald programs. Moreover, population trends will Behringer and Charlotte Eve Davies be strongly influenced by behavioral responses to climate change, as illustrated by This year, the diseases and parasites session Ross and Behringer with the Caribbean spiny had 22 presentations in total (17 talks and 5 lobster suggesting that alterations in pH and posters). Although we had a nice diversity of salinity may have impacts for the proper presentations representing pathogens and functioning of chemoreceptors that are so lobsters from around the world, it was not important in lobster behavior. From another surprising, considering the location of this perspective, McMahan and Grabowski 11th ICWL, that Epizootic Shell Disease suggested that naïve lobsters may not (ESD) dominated. identify or properly respond to novel predators extending their range as the We kicked off the week with Joseph Kunkel warm. Therefore, policy makers need to of the University of New England, USA, understand that climate change could lead to who introduced us to new analyses for dramatic alterations in the distribution and carapace structure, synthesis and behavior of lobsters which, in turn, could development throughout the moult cycle, have serious socioeconomic repercussions. demonstrating how fundamental studies Finally, the best way for policy makers to will continue to play a key role in make sure that our fisheries remain deciphering ESD in the American lobster sustainable is to provide the support Homarus americanus. Britnee Barris from necessary to do the science required to Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), USA, continued the theme of ESD

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progression with a temperature based study species. This work was supported by Corey and Melissa Hoffman of the University of Holt, also of CEFAS, who discussed new Rhode Island, USA, explored the novel tactics for the study of syndromes based on possibility of the use of probiotics to manage the metagenomics of gut microbes, which carapace lesions in aquarium animals. The could provide critical insight into etiology. session continued towards microbiome- based analyses of ESD, with both Michael Fraser Clark of Mount Allison University, Tlusty of the New England Aquarium (now Canada, continued the theme of high- of UMass Boston), USA, and Jeff Shields throughput sequencing, this time applying it from VIMS both using high-throughput to the testing of potential biomarkers which sequencing approaches to look at the could aid in post-capture holding success of progression of the syndrome. The concept of H. americanus, and in exploring its immune the pathobiome seems fitting for the response to a variety of pathogens, from the application to the ESD phenomenon - here, a scuticociliate Anophryoides haemophila to the consortium of microbes, possibly including causative agent of gaffkemia Aerococcus both prokaryotes and eukaryotes exploit the viridans var. homari. Samantha O’Gorman, altered immune status, environment University of Maine, USA, also touched on condition, or both to create the lesions gaffkemia and the effects of its absence in observed. The jury is still out on the Maine. ‘causative agent’ being Aquimarina “homaria”. It is clear that high quality phylogenetic analyses (based on full pathogen genomes) are improving our ability to understand disease interactions with the host with development of sensitive and specific diagnostics that can be applied to field/lab studies, with the full description of PaV1 from the Caribbean spiny lobster presented by Abigail Clark of the University of Florida, USA. Abigail also discussed the viability of the virus in seawater, and the theme of PaV1 was continued by Charlotte Davies from the Nice bibs! Don Behringer, Grant Stentiford, and National University of Mexico, Puerto Carlie Daniels. (photo: C. Davies) Morelos, who talked of untangling the effects of size and habitat on disease Other microbiome work presented by prevalence. Michelle Pond from Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Emerging diseases were also reported – Science (CEFAS), UK, on European lobster including idiopathic blindness in H. Homarus gammarus, highlighted the need to americanus, with presentations from Mitch consider microbiomes from the ‘inside’ and Hatzipetro from the University of Rhode not just the outside, and a novel Island, and Addison Ochs of VIMS talking microsporidian (and possible virus) in this about rapid diagnostics and the distribution

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of this little-known disease. Hamish Small, being taken with the recent introduction of also of VIMS used transmission electron the Marine Disease Emergency Act of 2015, microscopy and molecular analysis to but only time will tell if other countries identify a microsporidian parasite of the follow suit. Caribbean spiny lobster and Andrew Jeffs talked tail-fan necrosis in the southern rock Charlotte Eve Davies lobster, edwardsii. Reef System Unit (Puerto Morelos) Institute of Marine Sciences and Limnology It was noted that the utilization of long term National Autonomous University of Mexico datasets (e.g., linking climate change, Email: [email protected] disease, etc.) are critical for providing definitive statements on emergence/spread Grant Stentiford of conditions such as ESD. Maya Groner of Aquatic Animal Health Theme Lead, Cefas, UK VIMS used 35 years of mark recapture data Email: [email protected] to show what is possible, but unfortunately funding for monitoring is difficult to secure Donald Behringer resulting in a paucity of well-conducted, University of Florida long term studies focused on health. Better Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences integration of fishery and health monitoring & Emerging Pathogens Institute could be a way around this. Future focus on Email: [email protected] good diagnostics/pathology/case descriptions will continue to be at the centre

of rapid response and common language when discussing and reporting disease. This ICWL Session: Population also seems to be important in consistent Genetics & Connectivity discrimination of syndromes like the emergent ESD from other ‘black spot’ and Chair: Laura Benestan necrosis observations in crustaceans. Keynote speaker, Paulo Prodohl̈ (Queens In conclusion, it seems that the American University Belfast, Northern Ireland), set the lobster fishery in the US may be a ‘perfect stage for the theme of population genetics storm’ for disease emergence, with high and connectivity. He presented results of his density, a warming sea, and lack of groundbreaking use of genetic tagging by predators. Considering the risks to valuable microsatellite DNA profiling to evaluate the fisheries around the globe, there stock enhancement benefits of protecting should be more focus on training the next reproductive female Homarus gammarus generation of pathologists able to recognize through V-notching. In a partnership with a and report diseases. For policy makers, it is local fisherman's cooperative that started in important that marine diseases are taken 2003, Prohdol’s team genetically tagged into account in legislation. Climate change more than 26,000 berried lobsters. By and warming oceans could have a huge comparing the maternal genetic profile with effect on the abundance and distribution in that of the offspring, they inferred the marine diseases, as is already being paternal contribution by subtraction. This documented. In the US steps are already approach allowed them to quantify the

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direct contribution of the released V-notched tools to pave the way for the widespread females to the population. integration of genomics into fishery management programs. The subsequent session comprised seven oral presentations by a group of worldwide researchers (Europe, Oceania, and North America). The session started broadly, with a talk by Benestan et al. (Laval University, Canada) introducing the use of powerful genomic tools to reveal patterns of gene flow (i.e., genetic connectivity) and local adaptation in marine species, with the aim of resolving fisheries-specific questions. Indeed, their work demonstrated how the

use of next generation sequencing tools, From left, Paulo Prodohl, Ann-Lisbeth Agnalt, with thousands of single nucleotide Ellen Grefsrud, and Suzanne Eriksson chat at polymorphisms (SNPs) genotyped, could breakfast. (photo: RW) detect fine-scale genetic structure that was not previously described using few genetic The second oral presentation by Rougemont markers, in American lobster (Homarus et al. (Laval University, Canada) aimed to americanus) populations along the Atlantic compare the population genomic inferences coast of North America. This work led to the obtained using four different genomic identification of 11 genetic units within two protocols: Restriction-site associated DNA larger regions that may represent (RAD-seq), Restriction-site associated DNA demographically isolated populations, and combined with a capture method (Rapture), help delineate appropriate fishery a Genotyping-By-Sequencing method (GBS), management units. Using more than 10,000 and a pool sequencing strategy (Pool-seq). SNPs allowed the origin of an individual These protocols may differ in their power to from an unknown region to be powerfully resolve the weak population structure determined, which suggest that these common in the vast majority of marine markers may provide a future new species. They may also differ in the cost of traceability tool for detecting fishing fraud sequencing, which is highly correlated to the such as the genetic tests developed for the number of individuals used. Thus, protocols Atlantic cod though the work of the such as RAD-seq and GBS are costlier than a geneticist Einar Nielsen (Denmark). This Pool-seq approach since individual study also elucidates that adaptive genetic sequencing is not required for the latter. On variation in this species is linked to the other hand, preserving individual-level minimum sea surface temperature, which information may be critical for inferring suggests that climate change may have a accurate population genetic structure in strong influence on it in the future. During non-model marine species, where genetic the talk, new conceptual and technological differentiation tends to be weak. This study approaches were presented, with an evaluated this risk by presenting the emphasis on the necessity of combining advantages and ability of each method to evolutionary biology and marine ecology give accurate population genetic inferences

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in four American lobster populations in Australia) aim to enhance our eastern Canada. understanding of the connectivity among New Zealand, Australia, and . Two large-scale studies investigated the Indeed, the fishery for this species is genetic structure and connectivity pattern of currently managed with two management the European lobster (H. gammarus) in the units corresponding to New Zealand and third and fourth oral presentations. The Australia, whereas connectivity between presentation by Jenkins et al. (University of these areas is not well understood. Previous Exeter, United Kingdom) used RAD-seq work suggested genetic homogeneity that technologies on 55 individuals from across may results from the long planktonic phase Europe to test whether SNPs can help of S. verrauxi (i.e., 8-12 months), but this delineate fine-scale population structure. needs to be reassessed with new genomic Multivariate analyses on RAD-seq datasets tools. Using double-digest restriction-site revealed a fine-scale genetic structure, with associated DNA (ddRAD), Woodings et al. three genetic units identified as the Atlantic, identified 667 SNPs genotyped in 90 lobsters Skagerrak, and Mediterranean locations. that were putatively neutral and 29 Then, the top 95 SNPs showing the highest putatively under selection. They found genetic differentiation among these three genetic homogeneity among the three genetic units were selected to create a panel locations and comparable genetic diversity of SNPs that captures any population using neutral markers, whereas outlier SNPs structure detected. This panel was then used highlighted selective genetic differentiation to explore the assignment success of among the three regions. Their results individuals back to their location of origin underline the use of using outlier SNPs to and also give managers the opportunity to improve the delineation of relevant assess genetic structure of thousands of conservation units for this fishery. samples across Europe and over time. In the fourth oral presentation by Dahle et al. Following the work of Benestan et al., the (Institute of Marine Research, Norway), 12 fifth oral presentation by Dorant et al. (Laval polymorphic microsatellite loci were used to University, Canada) presented a future monitor the population structure of population genomic study on American Norwegian lobster populations and assess lobster populations, which will genotype the stability of their genetic structure over more than 4,000 individuals in 80 locations. time. Genotyping more than 2000 This large sampling design encompassing individuals along the Norwegian coast locations to be sampled in different years revealed a high and significant genetic will shed light on the temporal and spatial differentiation between southern and stability of the genomic structure of this northern locations. This differentiation is in species along its entire range. In addition, agreement with biological data showing the study aims to assess the correspondence large differences in size distribution and size between the genetic structure observed and at maturity. the current management units. Therefore, 82% of Canada’s Areas Genomic population studies of the eastern (LFA) will be sampled in order to provide rock lobster ( verreauxi) by fisheries management recommendations for Woodings et al. (La Trobe University, this species at a large scale. Since thousands

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of individuals will be analyzed, a new linked markers, which belong to known RADseq protocol has been developed to genes involved in molecular pathway linked target 10,000 SNPs in each individual and to sex determination. This presentation then minimize sequencing cost. fittingly closed the session by showing how the use of genomic tools, which are very promising, as shown by the first presentation, need to be analyzed with caution.

Laura Benestan Institut de Biologie Intégrative (IBIS) Université Laval Email : [email protected]

ICWL Session: Reproductive Biology

Chair: Ann-Lisbeth Agnalt

A total of seven oral and three poster presentations were given, covering five species and several scientific questions. Gaya Gnanalingam (Old Dominion University, USA) addressed the importance of conserving large female Caribbean spiny

lobster (Panulirus argus) as a management Session chairs give their summaries in plenary. measure to benefit from the (photo RW) disproportionately large reproductive contribution of these individuals. Using genomic tools for fishery Laboratory studies showed that offspring management without having sex from larger females had better larval information may lead to false interpretation survival and growth than those from smaller of population structure and thus potentially adult females. Martial Laurans (IFREMER, erroneous management recommendations. France) presented data showing that up to While genetic differentiation is expected to 90% of legal size European lobster (Homarus occur among subpopulations from gammarus) females off the Atlantic coast of ecologically divergent locations, regardless France produce eggs every year. of sex, the analyses by Benestan et al. of inshore versus offshore H. americanus The rising incidence of American lobster (H. populations along the United States coast americanus) found on the wrong side of the showed a significant difference in genetic Atlantic, including ovigerous females with structure estimates between female and hybrid clutches, has accelerated the need to male lobsters. This significant genetic assess the implications for the European structure only resulted from a few sex-

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lobster and its fishery. Susanne Eriksson DNA. All methods were convincing and (University of Gothenburg, Sweden) should be further elaborated. Feng Tang addressed the question what happens if (University of New Brunswick, Canada) hybrid larvae of American lobster females focused on females and oocyte limitation. hatching in Scandinavian waters. Common- Comparing field data with experimental garden experiments with hybrid larvae in studies, looking at total potential fecundity competition with European lobster larvae compared with actual larval production, showed similar survival and growth rates. lead her to the conclusion that there is DNA-analysis were made to verify species nothing wrong with the females. Julien identity. Upper and lower limits for salinity Gaudette (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) and temperature tolerance were also presented a new methodology developed in investigated and similar thresholds were fish to estimate ovarian fecundity measuring found for hybrid, American and European average oocyte diameter and ovary wet larvae. Ann-Lisbeth Agnalt (IMR Norway) weight. A high correlation was found, thus presented the results of studies of the showing the potential for this method. survival, growth and maturation of a hybrid Tammy Bo (University of New Brunswick, juvenile offspring from an ovigerous Canada) refined the Perkins Eye Index – an American lobster female captured off indicator of lobster embryonic development Norway in 2009. In conclusion, all studies - to predict time of hatching at different made so far show that offspring from temperatures. ovigerous American females survive, grow and mature in Scandinavian waters, and New Zealand scampi (Metanephrops thus do impose a real threat to European challengeri) is a deep-water species harvested lobster. around New Zealand. Little is known of its general biology. Alaric McCarthy In the American lobster, management (Cawthorn Institute, New Zealand) regulations protecting females have raised compiled 30 years of data to estimate concerns of sperm limitation because of the regional differences in size at maturity based selective harvesting of reproductively on allometric changes in abdominal width in competent males. Findings of ovigerous females and claw morphology in males. females with reduced clutch sizes could indicate reproductive deficiencies. Three Ann-Lisbeth Agnalt, presentations were given on this issue (two Institute of Marine Research oral and one poster). Tracy Pugh Bergen, Norway (Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, Email: [email protected] USA) presented a method to quantify sperm content in mated females, a first step towards quantifying male reproductive contribution. Laboratory mating experiments revealed incomplete fillings of the seminal receptacle of some of the females. Benjamin Gutzler (University of New Hampshire, USA) presented in his poster several methods for quantifying sperm per ejaculate, including amount of

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time series from the 1980s onward and confirmed high recent stage I abundances ICWL Session: Recruitment but low stage IV numbers, implying some Processes, Population Dynamics source of mortality in the limiting & Connectivity recruitment to the settling stage. Two talks examined other aspects of this disconnect: Chairs: Brady K. Quinn and Mark Butler Thompson et al. (Maine Department of Marine Resources, USA) looked at whether Presentations in the 11th ICWL’s sessions on increased abundances of sublegal lobsters Recruitment Processes (7 talks) and could be due to increased catchability of this Population Dynamics & Connectivity (7 stage in warming waters; and Shank talks and 6 posters) focused on the ecology (NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center, of early lobster life stages, particularly the USA) and Wahle tried to incorporate settling stages that make up the earliest settlement index data and post-settlement recruits to benthic populations. A common processes into stock assessment models to theme was tracking changes in lobster explain the disconnect and predict its future recruitment over time, and many impacts. Declining settlement has worrying presentations discussed monitoring implications to the future of lobster stocks in programs used to do so. These included the Maine, but more study is needed to confirm American Lobster Settlement Index (used by this pattern and its causes (e.g., see talk by Shank & Wahle and Quinn et al.), juvenile Goode et al. in the Climate Change session). and sublegal trap surveys (talk by Thompson et al., poster by Baker et al.), and Three talks focused on processes impacting various spiny or rock lobster settlement metamorphic and settlement success of collector time series (talks by Liggins et al., spiny or rock lobsters. Briones-Fourzan et Denham et al., Yao et al., posters by al. (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Meerhoff et al., Woodings et al., and 2 Mexico) assessed the presence of late-stage posters by Diaz et al.). These programs were phyllosomas and pueruli of two Caribbean used for forecasting fisheries recruitment, spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus and P. demonstrating effectiveness of stock guttatus) in the plankton. They identified the conservation efforts, validating models of Yucatan current along Mexico’s shelf break larval dispersal, and assessing factors as a likely location of , where leading to interannual changes in hydrodynamics concentrate food for the recruitment. late-stage phyllosomas to build up reserves. Two related talks focused on the buildup A talk by Carloni (New Hampshire Fish & and use of reserves in pueruli of Australian Game Department, USA) and Wahle rock lobsters (Sagmariasus verreauxi, Jasus (University of Maine, USA) introduced the edwardsii). Jeffs et al. (University of “Great Disconnect” observed recently in the Auckland, New Zealand) examined Gulf of Maine between high numbers of energetics of rock lobster pueruli arriving at adult and sublegal American lobsters NSW, Australia and found that nutritional (Homarus americanus) and high egg/larval condition of pueruli varied across years. production versus low numbers of settling This potentially reflected favourable versus stage IV lobsters. They examined a plankton poor environmental conditions in different

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years for pre-metamorphic buildup of studies broaden our understanding of life reserves for pueruli, or perhaps stress or use history adaptations to the deep sea of reserves by pueruli during their environment, and facilitate evolutionary settlement migration. Echauri and Jeffs comparisons with other lobsters. (University of Auckland, New Zealand) used various techniques to determine temperature-dependent energy expenditure during puerulus settlement migrations and dispersal among stocks during this phase. Their work suggests climate-change related shifts in oceanography impact food availability or induce stress, that in either case cause poor nutrition in the puerulus stage, contributing to recent declines in settlement of some rock lobster stocks.

With changes occurring to lobster stocks throughout the world, research into their basic biology is more crucial than ever. A talk by Hyde et al. (University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia) outlined ongoing

work to better understand molecular pathways involved in regulating Tammy Bo (UNB) at the ICWL poster session. (photo: A-L. Agnalt) metamorphosis of spiny or rock lobsters that

will inform future aquaculture efforts. Tang Several presentations also investigated et al. (University of New Brunswick, lobster population structure, particularly by Canada) described spatial and temporal assessing the extent and importance of patterns in the occurrence of “abnormal” connectivity among lobster stocks. Three (i.e., incomplete) egg clutches among presentations examined connectivity of American lobster females in Atlantic American lobsters. Quinn et al. (University Canada. They found evidence of potential of New Brunswick, Canada) enhanced a losses to population egg production as great model of American lobster larval dispersal as 40%, underscoring the importance of across the species’ range with biological accounting for this factor in future stock inputs on larval hatch time and behaviours. assessments. Heasman et al. (Cawthorn They found that these additions changed Institute, New Zealand) presented a study of predicted dispersal and settlement, showing the fecundity and early life stages of New the importance of realistic inputs to Zealand scampi (), a modeling connectivity. Morse et al. species in a little-studied genus of clawed (University of New Brunswick, Canada) lobsters. This group of deep-water lobsters compared dispersal of larvae predicted by has life history traits characteristic of other Quinn et al.’s model to that observed by fauna in that environment: they produce tagged benthic adults across one or multiple relatively few large eggs and have unusually years in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, abbreviated larval development. Such and found that both benthic and larval

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dispersal may be important contributors to Trobe University, Australia) used genetics to connectivity among lobsters in this region. A determine within and across-cohort poster by Churchill et al. (Woods Hole variations in genetic composition of rock Oceanographic Institute, USA) reported lobsters (S. verreauxi) in eastern Australia, results of another larval dispersal model to and found considerable variability among estimate whether lobster larvae from the sites within a year, and across years, Gulf of Maine could recruit to southern New showing the influence of oceanography or England lobster populations. They found other annual events on recruitment. that larvae could drift around Cape Cod or Denham et al. (Western Australian through Cape Cod Canal to this area, but Department of Fisheries) described work in surprisingly not from the more proximate which they tweaked parameters of a larval Georges Bank, which has its own well dispersal model of the spiny lobster defined circulation cell. Potential larval to improve the match transport through the Cape Cod Canal was a between predicted and observed settlement. novel finding, and this mechanism may help They tested 19 models and identified larval mitigate declines in southern New England input numbers, release time, and puerulus stocks. swimming as important factors influencing and improving model predictions. Five presentations were given on the study of connectivity in spiny or rock lobsters. Yao An overarching theme of these sessions was et al. (Florida International University, USA) the importance of the settling stage to presented an analysis of Caribbean spiny recruitment. Presentations highlighted the lobster (Panulirus argus) connectivity using many techniques being refined to stable isotopes and genetics in the Florida investigate lobster population dynamics, but Keys. They found that recruits clustered into also the large degree of uncertainty in their four groups, presumably coming from predictions and implications. This particular source areas each year, but with uncertainty is due largely to the lack of some differences in relative contributions of information on many aspects of the biology different sources estimated by different and ecology of early life stages, particularly techniques. A poster by Diaz et al. (Instituto sources and rates of mortality in larvae and Español de Oceanografia, Spain) presented settlers. Related to this was the observation analyses of changes to settlement of in clawed and spiny lobsters of decreased elephas in the Mediterranean early benthic recruitment in recent years, through time, and detected large-scale likely related to changes in the marine synchrony implying a common larval pool ecosystem. These topics are priorities for and thus connectivity among areas in the future research, as knowing the causes of region. Meerhoff et al. (Centro de Estudios such changes is essential for the preservation Avanzados en Zonas Áridas, Chile) of lobster fisheries. What is clear and estimated connectivity of Panulirus important for policy makers to know is that pascuensis among and adjacent lobster fisheries zones are not isolated units, localities. Using genetics and dispersal but rather depend on other zones for at least modeling they found potential dispersal some of their recruitment each year, so they among sites, including from a marine cannot be managed effectively without reserve to Easter Island. Woodings et al. (La understanding and accounting for this

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connectivity. Further, low abundances of Several presentations evaluated the relative settling-stage lobsters observed in recent impacts of warming waters vs. other factors years may be an early warning sign of affecting lobster biology and population declining recruitment to lobster populations productivity, such as population density, and lower catches in the future. Policy predators’ abundance, or fisheries makers should be aware of these potential management. For example, as illustrated by declines and aim to manage lobster fisheries Le Bris et al. (Gulf of Maine Research with caution in order to sustain them into the Institute, USA) using a population dynamics future. model of American lobster (Homarus americanus), it appears that warming waters Brady K. Quinn may act in synergy with conservation efforts Department of Biological Sciences to increase population productivity, as University of New Brunswick, Saint John observed in the Gulf of Maine, or may hasten Campus fishery collapse if conservation measures are Email: [email protected] not implemented, as experienced in southern New England. Using a new inverse-logistic growth model, de Lestang (Western Australia Fisheries and Marine ICWL Sessions: Environmental Research Laboratories) showed that Stressors & Climate Change warming in addition to increased population density can reduce individual Chairs: Arnault Lebris and Fraser Clark growth rates in the Western Australia rock lobster (Panulirus cygnus). These two complimentary sessions combined a total of 18 oral presentations and 11 posters. The climate change session followed the keynote by Dr. Malin Pinsky (Rutgers University, USA) entitled “Ocean Animals on the Move: Consequences for Ecological and Human Communities”.

Talks and posters presented in the climate change session provided a comprehensive overview of the direct effects of warming temperatures on lobster molt, growth, mortality, recruitment, and distribution. Cobble beach at Hurricane Island, Maine. Presentations also highlighted the (photo: RW) importance of the indirect effects of warming temperature, such as increased A well-documented impact of increasing vulnerability disease. The indirect effects of water temperatures is the variation in the climate change are still poorly understood, extent of suitable habitat for juvenile and and thus represent a promising research adult lobster (space and depth) that can have avenue. important consequences for population productivity. Butler (Old Dominion

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University, USA) showed that sea-level rise acidification due to increasing ocean pCO2. can also lead to newly available habitats for Several of these studies examined whole lobsters has observed in the Caribbean for animal responses combined with in-depth spiny lobster (P. argus). Including variation transcriptomic analysis. The RNA-seq in the extant of suitable habitats might be approach was highlighted for its significant key to obtain more robust prediction of promise for explaining the underlying fisheries landings as suggested by the biochemical and physiological pathways settlement-based forecasts of American responsible for the observed phenotypes lobster landings (Goode et al., University of (e.g., Fitzgibbon et al. University of Maine, USA). Tasmania, Australia, Waller et al. UMaine, and San Antonio et al. New England A common theme across numerous talks Aquarium, USA). Most of the RNA-seq was the development of quantitative tools to projects are in the bioinformatic analysis quantify and forecast impacts of climate portion of their project, but we look forward change on lobster distribution, abundance, to comparing the changes in gene expression and fisheries at multiple scales. Some of the from these studies on the American lobster tools presented during the session included at different life stages. the popular species distribution models (Tanaka, University of Maine, USA), Some presentations examined the effects of a statistical models (Staples et al., University single stressor (e.g, Harrington and Hamlin of Maine, USA), and cohort-based UMaine, USA), but a few highlighted the population dynamics model (Oppenheim et importance of looking at environmental al., University of Maine, USA). The time stressors in combination (Waller et al., scales of the presented forecasts varied from UMaine and San Antonio et al., New seasons (Mills et al., Gulf of Maine Research England Aquarium; Krang̊ et al. IMR, Institute, USA), to several years Sweden). This combinatorial approach (Oppenheim et al.) and to several decades highlighted the compounding or synergistic (Le Bris et al.). effects that multiple stressors can have on lobster behavior, physiology and immune Importantly, the ongoing development of response. The final presentation of the fisheries forecasts raises the questions of session (2nd talk by Fitzgibbon et al.) how to communicate such forecasts to the examined the effect of seismic testing on industry and the public, and how to use benthic animals such as . This them in lobster fisheries management. study highlighted the importance of Indeed, as demonstrated by students from selecting the proper controls and the University of Maine (Runnebaum, highlighted the impact that heavy shipping Maxwell et al.), constant communications traffic could be having on lobsters. and collaborative research with the industry is key to produce credible and relatable The presentations in this section science. demonstrated the importance of examining the significant effects that ocean acidification The session on Physiological Responses to is already having on lobsters, and what the Environmental Stressors highlighted the impact will be as pCO2 continues to increase. response of multiple lobster life stages to One factor that became apparent was that current and future increases in ocean

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different models predict different ocean involved to contrast the differing strategies pCO2 concentrations by 2100, and this was with the huge volume associated with the reflected in several of the presented studies lobster fishery in Maine and the incredible using different pCO2 concentrations. value that is captured from some of the However, the fact that multiple labs are Pacific spiny lobster fisheries. examining the effects at different pCO2 concentrations will only further our Industry Day proper opened Thursday understanding of the effects of ocean morning with successive presentations on acidification. the Maine lobster industry from the perspective of the harvester, manager and Arnault Lebris researcher. David Cousens, a longtime Memorial University harvester and President of the Maine St. Johns Newfoundland, Canada Lobstermen’s Association, provided an Email: [email protected] industry perspective on how the fishery has changed during his lifetime and how climate Fraser Clark change is impacting the timing of the lobster Mount Allison University harvest in Maine. Carl Wilson, Director of Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada the Bureau of Marine Science at Maine’s Email: [email protected] Department of Marine Resources followed up with a presentation on how science drives the management of Maine’s most valuable natural resource. Dr. Robert ICWL Industry Day: Industry- Steneck, Professor of Marine Science at the University of Maine, delivered the keynote Science Collaborations address by speaking of the perilous over- reliance of Maine’s coastal economy on Chair: Curt Brown lobster. Whereas in the past, harvesters in Maine could target different species, Industry Day provided conference attendees depending on the season, the depletion of a with many different perspectives on lobsters dirverse assemblage of groundfish and other from around the world. From marketing and species has led to lobster being the only sales to science and management, the wide game in town for most harvesters and range of talks shed light on how important communities. Dr. Steneck emphasized that lobsters of all shapes and sizes are to the while lobster stocks in Maine appear global fisheries economy. While Industry sustainable at the moment, anytime you Day technically ran during the Thursday of have all your eggs in one basket, you risk the conference, the industry side of things losing everything should a downturn occur. began informally during the Wednesday afternoon excursion portion when over 40 The rest of the day ran in two concurrent attendees walked down to Portland’s sessions with a wide range of talks from working waterfront for a tour of Ready industry representatives, wholesalers, Seafood, an American lobster wholesale economists, scientists and others on topics company that ships over 15 million pounds ranging from harvesting methods to global of lobster annually to customers around the trade policies. Despite the varying world. It was a great experience for everyone

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geography, it was telling how many issues undocumented sales and purchases or were held in common. Uncertainty caused “black markets” can skew trade data. Anna by climate change was an underlying one. Malek-Mercer of the Commercial Fisheries The dynamic between value and volume of Research Foundation, USA, described how the harvest in many lobster fisheries was her organization is conducting collaborative discussed at length, with Maine and Canada research projects utilizing new technology to at one end of the spectrum, representing assist in collecting data on and lobster. high volume fisheries, and Australia and New Zealand at the other, with the most value by weight. Presentations on global trade focused on trade barriers, invasive species, shipping methods, and quality. Overall, each of the day’s presentations reflected both unique local issues and common global challenges and opportunities.

The session on Industry-Science collaborations began with a presentation from Beth and Dave Casoni of the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association, USA. They described the unique challenges that the Massachusetts lobster fishery faces at the “crossroads” of climate change given the fact that their state spans a huge gradient in both water temperatures and lobster abundance. Brendan Ready of Ready Seafood, USA, and Eric Branton of Clearwater Seafood, Canada, presented separately on the challenges of shipping lobsters globally and the important role that In honor of the Maine lobsterman, Portland. science plays in ensuring both sustainability (photo: RW)

and product quality. Sandra Mollol, (Instituto Español de

Oceangrafía), described how reducing the The New Zealand lobster fishery is known soak time of trammel nets in the European world-wide for the quality and value of its spiny lobster () fishery lobster. Malcolm Lawson kicked off the impacted both the quality and quantity of afternoon with a keynote address on the the catch and reduced . Melanie increasing role that science is playing in Giffin of the Prince Edward Island increasing profitability for all involved in Fishermen’s Association, Canada, presented New Zealand’s lobster industry. Back to on the work that the association is doing to Homarus americanus, Josh Stoll of the through a levy on catches to market and University of Maine talked about global promote the quality and uniqueness of PEI’s trade routes of lobster and how fish and lobster products. Jessica Cosham of

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the Fishermen and Scientist Research given the conflicts between commercial and Society, Canada, presented on the successes recreational harvesters and harvesters, of past and present collaborative research managers and scientists and their current projects and how this collaborative research work to develop a consensus-based has led to improved relationships between management strategy for the fishery. science and industry. Bob Bayer of the Lobster Institute, USA, described work that Nick Battista of the Island Institute, USA, he conducted on the impact of new high gave a presentation on ocean planning in speed haulers on post-harvest mortality of Maine and the potential impacts on the the American lobster. lobster fishery. The spatial extent is poorly understood and severely underestimated in most ocean planning scenarios and Nick emphasized the importance of the lobster industry being a part of the process. Magnus Johnson of the University of Hull wrapped up the day with a presentation on the recent issue of Homarus americanus as a potential invasive species in European waters as a result of the trans-Atlantic trade in live lobsters.

The Industry Day Committee would like to thank all participants and sponsors for an informative and productive day. Industry Day chair, Curt Brown, interviews for local TV at the Ready Seafood plant. (photo: RW) Curt Brown Kim Colero of the Western Australia Rock Ready Seafood Co. Lobster Council talked about how changes Portland, Maine USA to the organization have led to improved Email: [email protected] relations with managers, politicians and the community as they have been able to self fund more of their operations as opposed to ICWL Industry Day: Adaptive relying on government funding. Michael Harvesting and Management Donihue of Colby College in Maine presented on upcoming work he is Strategies conducting looking at the overall impact of the lobster fishery on Maine’s economy Co-chairs: Nick Caputi, Burton Shank, Susie beyond the dock. Martial Laurans spoke to Arnold and Teresa Johnson the importance of involving the biological and ecological knowledge of fishermen to The Industry Day session on Adaptive the local resurgence of the Atlantic French harvesting and management strategies Homarus gammarus fishery. John Hunt of the contained 21 oral presentations which Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation covered 6 spiny lobster fisheries and 2 Commission described the challenges of clawed lobster fisheries across 5 countries.

managing Florida’s spiny lobster fishery

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This session highlighted a wide array of highlighting the implications of this on the social and ecological sustainability issues social resilience of the fishery (Johnson and important to fisheries managers and policy Mazur, UMaine, USA). makers in the various lobster fisheries around the world. Understanding these The effect of lobster fishing on the broader challenges and potential adaptive strategies ecosystem also received attention from a associated with them is critical for improved number of presentations. In Tasmania, governance and sustainability. Some Australia, the interaction between lobsters common issues covered by these and sea urchins has been a focus due to presentations included: ecological issues, overgrazing by the which has economics, social issues, area closures, extended its range and created kelp barrens climate change and management regimes. (Hartman et al., Univ. Tasmania). Bio- economic modelling was used to evaluate The involvement of fishermen in discussions the trade-off between the ecological issue on climate change issues in Maine and how and industry profitability while the trade-off fisheries are managed in a changing climate between socio-economic issues was also was identified as an important initiative in examined for this fishery (Gardner et al.). increasing awareness of how these changes The Tasmanian lobster fishery was also may affect coastal communities (Arnold et affected by harmful algal blooms and al., Island Institute, USA). The economic management steps to address this issue were assessment of the changing climate was outlined (Revill and Pullen, Wild Fisheries further explored by a vessel-level Management, Australia). The successful profitability study that assessed the mitigation of the interactions of lobster gear resilience of the community (Dayton et al., with whales and sea lions was the ecological Gulf of Maine Research Institute, USA). issue examined in the West Australian Some model scenarios were examined which lobster fishery (Caputi et al., Western take into account the predicted catch levels Australia Fisheries). based on the American lobster settlement index. The effect of changes in the timing of fishing was also examined in this fishery (Staples, UMaine, USA), as was the effect of changing markets on the fishery (Sun et al. Gulf of Maine Research Institute, USA).

Lobster fisheries face many social challenges. Resource sharing between commercial and recreational sectors was identified as one of the key issues facing two of the spiny lobster fisheries in Australia with the open access of the recreational fishery identified as one of the major Beth Casoni, Executive Director of the challenges (Revill and Pearn, Wild Fisheries Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association and Management, Australia). In Maine the her uncle, and former director, Dave Casoni. increasing age of fishermen is a key social (photo: RW) issue facing the industry, with oral histories

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Area closures were examined in a number of was assessed for the West Australian lobster fisheries for different reasons. The effect of fishery through its change from a effort- area closures were examined for the controlled fishery to one based on individual Homarus gammarus fishery which was transferable quota with maximum economic affected temporary closure due to a yield as its target (Caputi et al., Western windfarm construction (Roach et al., Australia Fisheries). Changes in fishing University of Hull, UK). A number of effort efficiency under effort and quota different sampling techniques were management were also presented for this examined in open and closed areas in the fishery (Penn et al., Western Australia western rock lobster fishery (Tuffley et al., Fisheries). University of Western Australia) while the importance of good communication with Nick Caputi fishers on the marine protected areas was Western Australia Fisheries highlighted for the Florida lobster fishery to Email: [email protected]

achieve good compliance (Renchen and Burton Shank Matthews, Florida Fish and Wildlife NOAA-Northeast Fisheries Science Center Commission). Long-term marine reserves Email: [email protected] provided a reference point to assess the exploitation of Palinurus elephas in the Susie Arnold northwest Mediterranean (Goňi, Instituto Island Institute Español de Oceangrafía). Email: [email protected] The sustainability of target stocks was the key issue examined in the study on Teresa Johnson threatened species in the University of Maine south-eastern Pacific Ocean (Palma et al., Email: [email protected] FisioAqua, Inc., Chile), while the use of V-

notching as a conservation tool was analysed in the American lobster (Reardon et al., ICWL Session: Fisheries Science Maine Dept. Marine Resources, and Mazur, UMaine, USA). Chair: Kisei Tanaka

th Risk assessments represent emerging tools The Fisheries Science session of the 11 in the fishery, and they were the focus of ICWL welcomed seven speakers from six presentations of the management of countries who presented studies on based on the level of stock southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii), mud assessment data available (Plaganyi-Lloyd borrowing lobster (Metanephrops challengeri), et al., CSIRO Australia), while industry risks Juan Fernandez rock lobster (Jasus frontalis), were identified in the assessment of the spiny lobster (Panulirus argus), and western rock lobster P. cygnus (Colero and American lobster (Homarus americanus). The Sofoulis, Western Rock Lobster Council, session considered a variety of topics from Australia). ecosystem approach to lobster stock assessment to identification of uncertainties, An ecosystem-based fisheries management as well as increasing biological realism in the (or triple bottom line) approach examining input data. the ecological, economic and social issues

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The first presenter Adam Cook (Fisheries Australia) presented a summary of a tag- and Oceans Canada) developed a data- recapture study for the management of the driven ecosystem indicator approach for western rock lobster, P. cygnus, fishery. The providing more robust stock assessment study showed that the recapture rate of advice for American lobster in Canada. The tagged lobster was influenced by many indicator approach considers stock factors including tag location, tagging assessment data inputs (abundance, position, catchability, and levels of fishing distribution, size structure, sex ratio, effort. As the management of the lobster recruitment) as derived ecological indicators fishery in Western Australia has recently (available habitat or reproductive potential) transitioned into total allowable catch quota or ecosystem indicators (bottom system, this study provides timely and temperature, Atlantic Multidecadal policy-relevant information to develop Oscillation, predator abundance). reliable baseline estimates of lobster biomass Furthermore, Cook presented a Principle and exploitation rates. Component Analysis-based analysis to identify coherent patterns and trends in To improve assessment of New Zealand multiple indicators over time. This indicator scampi stocks, Ian Tuck and Bruce Hartill approach can provide contextual (NIWA & University of Auckland) proposed information to the existing stock assessment to incorporate existing fishery observer- model, and policy relevant information, based catch composition data. The study such as harvest and population trends. explored the potential use of market-driven Caleb Gardner and co-authors (University weight-based grades to reconstruct the of Tasmania, Australia) estimated the rate of scampi catch data. The fishery’s length- tag induced mortality (TIM) in the wild structured assessment model is reliant on southern rock lobster population in Hobart, size and sex composition data of catches to Tasmania, Australia. Using a long-term inform fishery removals from the capture-mark-recapture study conducted since 2000, Gardner et al. developed a three- survey model to estimate in situ TIM, as well as the effect of the number of recaptured lobsters on TIM rates. The study highlighted the sensitivity in estimated TIM regarding the number of recaptured lobsters, and emphasized the difference between in-situ TIM and in aquaria TIM. A major benefit of this study was that it estimated TIM rate in- situ for the first time by comparing tag returns from multiple tagging years, and it

highlighted the need for TIM rate to be estimated in situ as an essential part of Bai Li, Kisei Tanaka, Robert Boenish of the existing tagging programs. Chen lab (UMaine) leaving no survivors. (photo: RW) Simon de Lestang and Matthew Pember (Department of Fisheries, Western

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population. To this end, this study showed “attraction” decreased with duration of that the use of market-based grade starvation. The study’s 7-week trials showed categories can quantify annual and seasonal that the duration of confinement had a consistency for a census of scampi catches. considerable effect on the attractiveness of This study can potentially improve and bait lobsters, and can reduce trap catch up to augment the quality of grade composition 40%. The commercial spiny lobster fishery in data on observer trips as an assessment Florida is one of the top fisheries in the state model input, and offers great potential to that is worth more than 30 million USD a provide fleet wide “catch sampling” year. Given the socioeconomic significance information. of the fishery, these findings on the loss of lobster attraction with decreasing lobster Using multiple mark recapture datasets and health could have a significant impact on the a growth dataset on large lobsters, Alvaro fishery as it likely reduces the success of the Palma (FisioAqua Inc., Chile) and co- fishery. authors proposed a new growth model for quantifying somatic growth of the Juan For the session’s last presentation, Robert Fernandez rock lobster, Jasus frontalis, stock Boenish and Yong Chen (University of in Juan Fernandez Archipelago. The Maine, USA) developed an approach to comprehensive growth model can spatio-temporally quantify effective fishing incorporate multiple sources of information effort for the American lobster fishery in the and account for sex-specific assess molt Gulf of Maine. The study utilized seven frequency and annual size increments. The years of fishery-dependent data and semi- study found that males and females can molt parametric bootstrapped two-stage up to 4 times within a 30-50 mm carapace generalized additive model to standardize length size range, but females stall their lobster catch per unit effort (CPUE) and growth rate earlier than males. The key estimate confidence intervals. The findings from this study shed insight on the bootstrapped CPUE confidence intervals Juan Fernandez rock lobster somatic growth combined with high resolution landings and could potentially replace the current data showed that the peak of effective effort von Bertalanffy growth model. during the most productive part of the fishing season preceded the peak of landings Fishermen for spiny lobsters often leave a in all study years. The methodology lobster in the trap to attract conspecifics. developed by Boenish and Chen allows Casey Butler and co-authors (Florida Fish fishery managers to study fishery dynamics and Wildlife Research Institute, USA) at enhanced resolution and improve spatio- examined the effects of long-term temporal management precision. confinement on the attractiveness of nutritionally deprived lobsters as bait in the Overall, the session reflected the emerging Florida spiny lobster, P. argus, fishery. Using trends in recent efforts to account for Y-maze experiments and field-based trap environmental influences and biological experiments, the authors studied the details specifically with regard to the process response of lobsters to starved conspecifics. included and their representation in the Lobsters were not significantly attracted to assessment and management of lobster nutritionally compromised lobsters, but fisheries. Moving forward, the next ICWL

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would likely see an increasing number of disease, establishing baselines for health studies addressing relationships between monitoring of lobsters, wild lobster environmental components, lobster interactions with salmon farming population dynamics and management therapeutants, training in aquaculture for strategies evaluation. Development of commercial fishers, and the role of modeling framework that can simulate physiological “personality” in determining changes in both ecosystem and population performance in captive aquaculture of dynamics can make useful lobsters. recommendations for policy makers to implement effective ecosystem-based management of lobster fisheries.

I would like to thank all speakers in the Fisheries Science session for their interesting presentations and discussions. I look forward to seeing many of you again at the next ICWL conference.

Kisei R. Tanaka School of Marine Sciences Climate Change Institute Field grow-out chambers for the European University of Maine lobster. (photo: C. Daniels) Email: [email protected] There were also a number of presentations on the continued emergence of lobster ICWL Session: Aquaculture aquaculture technologies, including larval culture methods, wild seed collection and Co-chairs: Clive Jones and Andrew Jeffs grow out systems for both clawed and spiny lobsters. However, it was clear from the The Aquaculture Session of the conference presentations that the commercial scale comprised two sub-sessions including 10 lobster aquaculture remains slow to emerge oral presentations as well as two posters. anywhere in the world despite the The presentations represented a wide range increasing pressures and risks to wild of global locations, including Indonesia, lobster populations from harvesting and Australia, Norway, Canada, USA, England environmental change that were a common and Scotland. Given the location of the feature in many of the presentations conference in the north Atlantic and the throughout the conference. relative commercial importance of Homarus among the many lobster genera covered at Both production technology and policy the conference, it was unsurprising that 8 of settings are integral to advancing lobster the 12 papers related to clawed lobsters – aquaculture. For clawed lobster, hatchery Homarus spp., and 4 to spiny lobster species. technology is well established, but methods The topics that were covered were highly for on-growing of hatchery generated diverse and included treatments for shell juveniles is uncertain. There are encouraging

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preliminary results of cage-based grow-out of Homarus (Carly Daniels, The National Clive Jones Lobster Hatchery, United Kingdom), but James Cook University, Australia larger scale production may be confined to Email: [email protected] stock enhancement of wild populations. There are important policy considerations Andrew Jeffs involved in this, in regard to the genetics and University of Aukland, New Zealand health of the hatchery stocks. For the spiny Email: [email protected] lobsters, hatchery technology has been advanced (Greg Smith, University of Tasmania, Australia), but has been much more difficult to commercialise and existing spiny lobster farming is reliant on wild ICWL Session: Trap Design & puerulus resources (Clive Jones, James Impacts Cook University, Australia). Policy around exploitation of such lobster seed resources Chair: Win Watson will be critical for sustainable development. This session consisted of seven presentations The emergence of lobster aquaculture has concerning different species. Despite the fact the potential to take a great deal of pressure we call them all lobsters, there are many off wild populations in the same manner as differences between species, in terms of their wild populations were incidentally abundance, habitats and behaviors, that safeguarded to some degree with the strongly influence how we need to capture them. For example, are much more scarce than American lobsters and reside in mud/sand habitats, rather than cobble and rock and scampi are much more hesitant to enter traps than some of the other lobster species. This necessitates using different strategies and gear in each of the fisheries. So, what did we learn in this session?

First, Emily Rondeau et al. (Fisheries and Oceans, Canada) presented data showing that bycatch in the American lobster fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence does not appear Vietnamese lobster farm (photo: C. Jones) to be a large problem because 91% of the bycatch are sublegal lobsters and many of introduction of shrimp farming technology the other bycatch species are authorized last century. In this regard, greater global bycatch. This is a much different from the co-ordination and focus on efforts to more situation in New Zealand with the scampi rapidly advance lobster aquaculture was a trawl fishery. Shaun Ogilvie (Cawthorn clear conclusion for those attending this Institute, New Zealand) and his colleagues session. showed how they designed an exclusion

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device to limit bycatch by trawls, which have to do with inhibiting the entrance of appears to have lots of promise. Second, they lobsters into traps. have been using cameras to help them understand more about the density of Finally, another way to optimize catch, scampi on the bottom and the type of habitat while minimizing costs, is to gain a better where they are most abundant. Third, they understanding of where the greatest have designed bait containers to limit the densities of lobsters can be found. This is catch of hagfish and fourth, their especially important for those species, such observations of scampi interacting with as Nephrops, that are not as abundant. Knut traps in the laboratory have enabled them to Jørstad (Institute of Marine Research, greatly improve the design of the traps they Norway) and his associates demonstrated are using to capture these skittish, but tasty, how it is possible to gain such knowledge lobsters. using a fairly low cost mapping and trapping approach. In contrast to the scampi fishery, sometimes too many American lobsters can enter traps, Win Watson especially the ventless traps that marine University of New Hampshire, USA resource agencies in the US and Canada Email: [email protected] have been using lately to obtain better abundance and size frequency data. Previous studies have shown that these ICWL Workshop: Caribbean ventless traps saturate after about 16-24 hours, which may impact the accuracy of the Spiny Lobster Stock data obtained with typical 2-3 day soaks. Assessment Win Watson (University of New Hampshire, USA) and his colleagues Chair: Yuying Zhang presented data indicating that they saturate after 24 hours because their rate of entry Because of the social-economic importance slows down so that it is equal to their rate of of Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus, escape. One of the major factors that appears workshops were held by various agencies to be responsible for this change in entry rate from 1997 to 2006 to promote collaborations is the loss of bait attractiveness due to the in managing and utilizing the fisheries rapid leaching of attractants. resources at both national and regional levels. In this workshop, stock assessments Another factor that can influence catch is the scientists were invited to introduce their presence of other species. Everyone models that are used to estimate spiny continues to worry about the impact of green lobster fisheries status and update model on various lobster fisheries and in results. Newfoundland, catch of lobsters has declined 34% since the appearance of green The Southeast US stock used a size- crabs in 2007. Gemma Rayner et al. structured model. The complex life history (Memorial University, Newfoundland, and fisheries process of the Caribbean spiny Canada) are still not sure how they reduce lobster makes the size-structured model catch, but their data suggest that it might more effective than the age-structured

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models. As the spiny lobster lacks calcified structures to mark age directly, uncertainty and error could be introduced to the age- structured model during the length-age transformation. The stock assessment model also describes seasonal sex-specific population dynamics of the spiny lobster, which better describe the reality. The uncertainty of the parameters and the biological reference points have also been estimated. Both sensitivity and retrospective analyses indicate that the size-structured The Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus (photo: P. Briones) stock assessment model can provide

management advice for the Southeast US Attendees took this opportunity to exchange stock. new ideas, expand networks, discuss about

important biological features that should be According to Dr. Gloria V. Rios (National considered in stock assessment and Institution of Fisheries and Aquaculture of management. They also discussed the Mexico), a dynamic nonlinear age- difficulties in stock assessment and structured model is applied in the Yucatan management, and sought for possibility Platform that located in the Northern solutions. This workshop could enhance co- Mexico. Results show high exploitation rates management the Caribbean spiny lobster at and extraordinary changes in biomass, both national and regional levels. Similar however production in the fishing areas has workshops will continue to be held in other been sustainable for a long period of time. A regional and international conferences. surplus model is applied in the North-

Northeast Zone from Quintana Roo. The As it is difficult to find reliable stock maximum sustainable yield is spawning biomass-recruitment approximately equal to the production relationships for independent stocks, the obtained per fishing season. The production next question for fisheries scientists is to as an indicator has shown sustainability in investigate accurate and precise the last twenty years. The abundance demographic recruitment connectivity estimation of Natural Protected Area among Southeast US, Mexico and other Alacranes Reef is based on diving Caribbean countries. Meanwhile, stock observations, and the density estimations assessment scientists need to develop a are slightly higher than those obtained from meta-population framework to access the previous studies. Future stock assessments bias and uncertainty of current stock should take the distribution of fishing effort, assessment models associated with various distribution of population exploited in the stock spatial structure scenarios. The results different areas, movement patterns of the will help fisheries managers to promote the resource and re-colonization of fishing areas conservation, management and into account. development of the Caribbean spiny lobster resources.

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The chair wants to thank Florida Sea Grant lobster, Panulirus argus, for better for its support of this workshop. management of the resource, and to Appreciations should also be delivered to recommend optimal standards of storage the organizers and audiences of the 11th and handling for live export. For these ICWL, as well as those stock assessment reasons, applied research was carried out on scientists from Caribbean countries, who the respiratory performance of several tried their best to participate this workshop, groups of lobsters at different temperatures, but couldn’t make the trip due the to establish the standard values of oxygen bureaucratic, financial and/or visa consumption and the "critical point" (Pc), constraints. which represents the concentration of oxygen below which this species ceases to be Yuying Zhang oxygen-regulator to become oxygen- - Marine Sciences Program conforming. The metabolic rate in mgO2kg Department of Biological Sciences 1.h-1, as a reflection of the metabolism, Florida International University, Biscayne Bay represents all the changes of matter and Campus energy that occur in the experimental 3000 NE 151 St MSB 358 animal. North Miami, FL 33181, USA Email: [email protected] To measure metabolic rate, 221 measurements of oxygen consumption were made. We measured an average mass- -1 -1 o specific rate of 46.9 mg O2 kg .h at 20 C for lobsters with an average weight of 520 g (5 RESEARCH NEWS years of age). According to Fig. 1, metabolic rate declines with larger size and older age (Winberg, 1950). This is due to the fact that Oxygen consumption & critical point in spiny smaller individuals need to consume more lobster…………………………………….. 32 energy per unit body mass to metabolize American lobsters across the Atlantic…… 35 normally. The critical point for 220C was 1.63 Generating new biological knowledge in the NZ (±0.17 SD) mg.L-1, and for 29oC of 1.30 (±0.11 Scampi Fishery ………………………….. 37 SD) mg.L-1 with a statistical significance of 0.05. (Groups of individuals with an average Oxygen consumption and weight of 607±60 g and 620±67 g, respectively). Lobsters can be oxygen- critical point in the Caribbean regulating to a level reached in the Pc, below spiny lobster Panulirus argus, which the individuals become oxygen- latreille 1804 conforming or depending on the concentration of the medium. Pc has been From: Gerardo Suárez Álvarez and Lucia reported consistently between 2.0 and 0.9 -1 Ocampo Victoria mgL for a range of crustaceans (Ocampo, 2001). This research was conducted because of the commercial industrial sector's need to know about the metabolic behavior of the spiny

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Figure 2. Determination of the Oxygen Critical Figure 1. P. argus metabolic rates versus body point (PC) as the interaction of two slopes on a weight at three temperatures 16, 20, and 27 oC. plot of oxygen depletion over time.

A representation of the Pc is in Fig. 2, Figure 3 shows the variation of the observed constructed as the result of all the and calculated metabolic rate, as a function experimental observations, represented by of the available water exchange per sample, the two lines and their point of intersection where the optimum volume of flow -1 between 0.7 and 0.8 mg. L-1. This corresponds to 62 to 66 Lh . This is the demonstrates that lobster should not be amount of water required per lobster subjected to overcrowding in ponds or cages weighing between 500 and 600 grams, to because in a short time they will consume carry out its functions normally without the oxygen available and normal causing stress. For the purposes of storage in performance is affected. Below this value cages or ponds this is the supply of water lobster metabolic rate becomes dependent required for the best possible quality and on the oxygen level of the medium. The survival. remembering that larger equations of both lines, significant for a 95% specimens will need more water exchange probability, as well as their coefficients of (Suárez and Xiquéz, 1969). The observed determination, are presented in Fig. 2. values were adjusted to a polynomial of degree 4. The resulting equation that explains this model is:

-1 -1 -1 mgO2.kg .h = - 9.21 + 1.16 * (L.h ) - 6.78 * (L.h-1)2 + 1.37 * (L.h-1)3 - 8.26

The R2 indicates that the adjusted model explains 98% of the variability of the data.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Thanks to all workers in the fishing industry of Cuba and scientific personal by CIBNOR, México

Gerardo Suárez Álvarez Centro de Investigaciones Pesqueras. 5ta. Ave. Y 246. Barlovento. Sta. Fe. Playa. Ciudad Habana. Cuba. [email protected]

Lucia Ocampo Victoria Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste. SC. (CIBNOR). Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita -1 -1 Figure 3. Metabolic rate (mg O2.kg .h ), according Sur. CP 23090. La Paz, Sur, -1 to the water change (Litres.h ), for lobsters between México. 500 and 600 grams of wet weight. The error bars typical of the calculated curve are presented. (R2=0.98)

In summary, the mean metabolic rate of P. -1 -1 argus was determined as 46.9 mg O2.kg .h at 20 oC, for individuals with an average weight of 520 g. At an older age, a lower value of the metabolic rate corresponds; strictly adhering to the parabolic relationship of metabolism, and this is due to the fact that smaller individuals need to consume more energy per unit mass to metabolize normally. At lower temperatures the animals have lower metabolic rates and oxygen consumption. The critical point Pc was determined between 0.7 and 0.8 mg.L-1 to keep live lobsters in captivity for experimental or purposes, without causing stress, and a water replacement rate of 50-60 L per specimen must be offered.

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et al. 1978). However recently it has been proven that H. americanus female lobsters American lobsters across the and H. gammarus males mate successfully in Atlantic the wild in both Sweden and Norway, where ca 30% of berried H. americanus captured From: Susanne P Eriksson, Fayez Alsaleh, Matz carry hybrid eggs. When kept in ambient Berggren, Anna-Sara Krång, Adam Powell, conditions the hybrid clutches hatch Linda Svanberg, Hannah L Wood equivalent numbers to the native H. gammarus clutches (Fig. 1), resulting in Alien Homarus americanus have been thousands of hybrid larvae with each confirmed in a number of European successful reproduction. One of the most countries, including Sweden, Norway and obvious deleterious characteristics seen in the UK (Jørstad et al. 2011, Stebbing et al. the hybrid offspring is that 22±9 % (Nclutch=3) 2012, Swedish Agency for Marine and Water of the larvae are deformed. Many of the Management 2016). In Sweden, the first wild-captured animal was confirmed in 2008, and since 2014 the species has been caught annually during the lobster fishing season. H. americanus successfully reproduces in both Sweden and Norway, and females are caught with viable eggs resulting from either conspecific mating or cross-breeding with European males (Homarus gammarus). The repeated captures of H. americanus in Europe raise concerns about the possible impact on both the European lobster, as well as other native Figure 1. The hatching success of female Homarus lobsters, carrying con-specific or cross- crustaceans. Each introduction of this alien bred offspring. All females were kept in the species poses a potential risk of genetic laboratory during egg incubation at ambient contamination and / or competition for Swedish water conditions. resources. The populations of the European lobster are currently estimated to be at an larvae and young juveniles are, however, historical low in both Sweden and Norway, apparently healthy and viable and may and therefore potentially more sensitive to survive to adulthood. Since H. gammarus and impact (Sundelöf et al. 2013). Since the two H. americanus have many morphological species have been geographically and common features, it is only through genetic reproductively separated from each other sampling that the three genotypes of lobsters since the Pleistocene, the species have can be separated with 100% certainty developed certain reproductive barriers (Jørstad et al. 2007). Researchers at the (Hedgecock et al. 1977). Early crossbreeding University of Gothenburg (Sweden), attempts in the laboratory were only Institute of Marine Research (Norway) and successful when H. americanus males mated the University of Bordeaux (France), are with H. gammarus females (Andouin and collaborating to produce scientific data that Leglise 1972, Carlberg et al. 1978, Hedgecock can anticipate the consequences of possible

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establishment of H. americanus across americanus, Homarus gammarus and their European ecosystems. In Sweden, during hybrid. Proc. Annu. Meet. – World Maric. the last two years, we have run experiments Soc. 9, 109-122. on tolerance, competition and growth in the Factor JR. Ed. Biology of the lobster Homarus early life stages of the three genotypes americanus. (Academic Press, New York, (Fig.2). 1995). Pp 528. Hedgecock D, Nelson K, Simons J and R Shleser (1977) Genetic similarity of American and European species of the lobster Homarus. Biol. Bull. 152, 41-50. Hedgecock D, Moffet WL, Borgeson W, Nelson K and J Simons (1978) Progress Figure 2. Juvenile lobsters of the same age, and problems in lobster broodstock raised in ambient Swedish water conditions. development. Proc. Annu. Meet. – World (photo: C. Daniels) Maric. Soc. 9, 497-506. Jørstad KE, Prodohl PA, Agnalt A-L, Hughes Establishment of H. americanus or hybrid M, Farestveit E and AF Ferguson (2007) populations in Europe can be ascertained Comparison of genetic and if juveniles (or subadults) of a size smaller morphological methods to detect the than live imports (trade animals) are found presence of American lobsters, Homarus in the wild. Although lobster juveniles are americanus H. Milne Edwards, 1837 easily caught in their native habitat in North (: Nephropidae) in Norwegian America (e.g. Wahle et al. 2004), similar waters. Hydrobiologia, 590:103–114. attempts in European waters have so far not doi:10.1007/s10750-007-0762-y been successful (e.g. Mercer et al. 2001). Jørstad KE, A-L. Agnalt, E. Farestveit (2011) The introduced American lobster, However, the quest for lobster juveniles (of Homarus americanus in Scandinavian any genotype) in the field has yet again been waters, in B.S. Galil, P.F. Clark, J.T. initiated using an especially designed Carlton, Ed., In the wrong place - alien Berggren-trap, deployed in areas where marine crustaceans: Distribution, habitat is likely to be favorable to juvenile biology and impacts. Invading Nature - lobsters (Factor 1995, Wahle et al. 2004), and Springer Series in Invasion Ecology, 6. in the vicinity of H. americanus hot-spot (Springer, New York). Pp. 625-638. areas. Mercer JP, Bannister RCA, van der Meeren GI, Debuse V, Mazzoni D, Lovewell S, References Browne R, Linnane A and B Ball (2001) An overview of the LEAR (Lobster Audouin J and M. Leglise (1972) Premiers Ecology and Recruitment) project: results résultats d’expériences relatives aux of field and experimental studies on the possibilités d’acclimatation du homard juvenile ecology of Homarus gammarus in américain Homarus americanus en France. cobble. Mar. Freshwater Res. 52, 1291- ICES CM E:34. 1301. Carlberg JM, JC Van Olst and RF Ford (1978) Stebbing P, Johnson P, Delahunty A , Clark A comparison of larval and juvenile PF, McCollin T, Hale C and S Clark (2012) stages of the lobsters, Homarus

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Reports of American lobsters, Homarus americanus (H. Milne Edwards, 1837), in British waters. BioInvas. Rec., 1, 17-23. Generating new biological and Sundelöf A, Bartolino V, Ulmestrand M and ecological knowledge in the M Cardinal (2013) Multi-Annual New Zealand scampi Fluctuations in Reconstructed Historical Time-Series of European Lobster (Metanephrops challngeri) (Homarus gammarus) Population fishery Disappear at Increased Exploitation Levels. PLoS ONE 8 (4): e58160. doi: From: Shaun Ogilvie, David Taylor, Kevin 10.1371 / journal.pone.0058160 Heasman, Chris Batstone, Robert Major, Alaric Swedish Agency for Marine and Water McCarthy, Karen Middlemiss, Sara Jamieson, Management (2016) Risk assessment of Glenice Paine, Richard Paine, Stephen Connor, American lobster (Homarus americanus) Geoffrey Connor, John Radford, Andrew Jeffs, Report 2016:4. ISBN 978-91-87967–09-2. Ian Tuck Pp. 91. Wahle RA, Incze LS and MJ Fogarty (2004) New Zealand scampi (Metanephrops First projections of American lobster challengeri) (Fig 1) are a highly valuable fishery recruitment using a settlement lobster species which are widely distributed index and variable growth. Bull. Mar. Sci. on the continental shelf of New Zealand in 74,101-114. depths of about 250-550 m (Tuck et al., 2015) (Fig 2). Scampi are fished in waters of around 300 m depth by bottom with triple rigged otter trawls. Access to the Susanne P Eriksson, Fayez Alsaleh, Matz scampi fishery in New Zealand is managed Berggren, Anna-Sara Krång, Adam Powell, by the (QMS), Linda Svanberg, Hannah L Wood and roughly 1000 t of scampi are caught per Department of Biological and Environmental year, valued at US$13M. Even though NZ Sciences Kristineberg scampi have been the target of this fishery University of Gothenburg for over 30 years, relatively little research Kristineberg 566 has been done on this species, and most of SE-451 78 FISKEBÄCKSKIL, Sweden our knowledge comes from variations in Email: [email protected] catch rates and trawl surveys (Tuck, 2015).

Figure 1. New Zealand scampi (Metanephrops challengeri). (photo: A. McCarthy) Similar to other deep-sea bottom trawl fisheries, the New Zealand scampi trawl

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fishery generates high levels of bycatch, future generations. The project has three impacts the sea floor and requires large pillars: to develop potting technology amounts of fuel (Anderson, 2012). targeting scampi, to identify effective baits for the pots, and to investigate the aquaculture potential of the species. In researching these three pillars the programme has generated new knowledge about New Zealand scampi, which could also be applied to other Metanephrops lobsters.

Potting technology To develop potting technology to capture NZ scampi, initial experiments were completed using pots designed for the ecologically similar Norway lobster () found in Europe. These pots had limited success and resulted in high amounts of bycatch, particularly hagfish (Eptatretus cirrhatus) (Major et al., 2017b). Additionally, these European pots had minimal success in the laboratory (6 percent capture rate). Laboratory experiments showed scampi would not enter the traditional funnel shaped entrances used in Nephrops traps. Consequently, we tested how scampi interact with various Figure 2. Map of locations where Metanephrops components of traps (such as entrance slope, challengeri have been caught by research trawls entrance width and height) with the aim of undertaken by NIWA around New Zealand optimising a trap design for this species. We 1964-2008. Generated using data from have confirmed proof of concept of pot www.iobis.org design in a laboratory setting. The next step is to investigate the distribution of scampi It was these characteristics that inspired the and any habitat correlates that can be used Waikawa Fishing Company, in collaboration to determine sites of high scampi density with the Cawthron Institute, Zebra-Tech Ltd suitable for field deployment of the new pot and the University of Auckland, to develop design. new sustainable fishing and aquaculture technologies to improve the utilisation of Bait technology this resource. The rationale for this Effective baits to be used in the scampi sustainable approach to utilising the New specific pots were investigated using a series Zealand scampi resource is tied closely to of bioassays that focused on the the Māori (the indigenous people of New chemosensory behaviour of scampi (Major Zealand) worldview of kaitiakitanga, which et al., 2017a), on the effect of turbulence on promotes stewardship of resources for the efficiency of food search behaviour

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(Major & Jeffs, 2017), and the attractiveness larvae history in that it metamorphoses of a range of different baits. The results of directly from pre-zoea to post larvae these studies elucidated that firstly, the time (Okamoto, 2008). The longest a M. challengeri scampi spent during each of the phases of postlarva has been maintained in our rearing chemically-mediated food search behaviour system has been 15 months, and this was highly variable regardless of the bait individual, christened Camilla, became a tested. Secondly, scampi are significantly minor celebrity after a visit by Prince Charles more efficient at searching for food in (Gee, 2016). turbulent flow versus laminar flow. Lastly, using a multichoice flume, we identified that We have also assessed the size of onset of New Zealand pilchard (Sardinops maturity for this species, using neopilchardus) baits were significantly more morphometric approaches, including the attractive to the scampi than a number of minimum size of ovigerous females and size alternative natural seafood baits. The at which 50% of females display eggs. combined results of these experiments Morphometric measurements to investigate suggest that scampi are opportunistic SOM in males were also explored with scavengers that venture out of their burrows varying success. The results suggest that during periods of higher tidal flow to search onset of maturity for females varied between for food and therefore pots should be fished 39.8- 56.9 mm orbital carapace length. during periods of tidal flow. Furthermore, Differences in the size of onset of maturity oily fish appear to be the most suitable bait were observed due to fisheries management for scampi due to higher attraction. areas, depth and temperature. This has implications for aquaculture, enabling the Aquaculture identification of ideal temperatures for To assess the aquaculture potential for growth and potentially a faster maturing scampi, aspects of the reproductive biology, stock to be used for broodstock. larval development, and size of onset of maturity have been examined. Compared to other lobster species, female scampi carry a small number of relatively large eggs under their tails for an extended period, resulting in an advanced zoea hatching with a truncated pelagic phase. We have identified pre-zoea, zoea 1, zoea 2 and post larval stages for this species (Fig. 3). Of the 18 extant Metanephrops species only four, M. Figure 3. Larval stages of NZ scampi thomsoni, M. sagamiensis, M. japonicus and (Metanephrops challengeri). (Photo: J-C. Stahl, now M. challengeri, have had their larval Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, New Zealand) stages confirmed. Three of these species (M. thomsoni, M. sagamiensis, and M. challengeri) Future work show the same larval assemblage (i.e., pre- Research is ongoing for all three pillars of the zoea, Zoea I, Zoea II followed by project. For the potting technology we will metamorphosis). In contrast, M. japonicus be testing our new pot design in areas of has been shown to have a more abbreviated appropriate scampi habitat and density. The attractant research will focus on genetic gut

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content analysis of scampi, which may guide Okamoto, K. (2008). Japanese nephropid the identification of new bait materials. The lobster Metanephrops japonicus lacks zoeal focus for the aquaculture pillar is to refine stage. Fisheries Science, 74(1), 98-103. and upscale larval production to supply Tuck, I. D. (2015). Characterisation and a larger numbers of post-larvae for future length-based assessment model for scampi research and commercialisation. In (Metanephrops challengeri) at the Auckland conclusion, while the primary focus of this Islands (SCI 6A). . Ministry for Primary research programme has been commercial Industries. application, the new knowledge generated Tuck, I. D., Parsons, D. M., Hartill, B. W., & has greatly increased our understanding of Chiswell, S. M. (2015). Scampi the biology and ecology of New Zealand (Metanephrops challengeri) emergence scampi, which will greatly assist with the patterns and catchability. ICES Journal of sustainable management of these lobsters Marine Science, 72(suppl 1), 199-210. into the future. Shaun Ogilvie1, David Taylor1, Kevin References Heasman1, Chris Batstone1, Robert Major1, 1,4 1 Anderson, O. F. (2012). Fish and invertebrate Alaric McCarthy , Karen Middlemiss , Sara 1 2 2 bycatch and discards in New Zealand Jamieson , Glenice Paine , Richard Paine , 2 2 scampi fisheries from 1990-91 until 2009- Stephen Connor , Geoffrey Connor , John 3 4 4 10. Wellington. Ministry of Fisheries. Radford , Andrew Jeffs , Ian Tuck Gee, S. (2016). Royally named Camilla the 1 2 scampi celebrated as scientific Cawthron Institute, Waikawa Fishing 3 4 breakthrough Retrieved 30/10/2017, Company, Zebra-Tech Ltd., University of 2017, from Auckland, New Zealand http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farmi ng/aquaculture/82072922/royally- Email: [email protected] named-camilla-the-scampi-celebrated- as-scientific-breakthrough Major, R. N., & Jeffs, A. (2017). Orientation and food search behaviour of a deep sea lobster in turbulent versus laminar odour plumes. Helgoland Marine Research, 71(1), 9. Major, R. N., Ogilvie, S. C., & Jeffs, A. G. (2017a). Laboratory investigations of the foraging behaviour of New Zealand scampi. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 497, 99-106. Major, R. N., Taylor, D. I., Connor, S., Connor, G., & Jeffs, A. G. (2017b). Factors affecting bycatch in a developing New Zealand scampi potting fishery. Fisheries Research, 186, Part 1, 55-64.

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The Lobster Newsletter Volume 30, Number 2 December 2017 41 VOLUME THIRTY DECEMBER 2017 NUMBER TWO

ANNOUNCEMENTS

12th International Conference and Workshop on Lobster Biology and Management Perth Australia 2020

From: Nick Caputi and Matt Taylor

While this Lobster Newsletter is focused on reporting the outcome of the successful 11th ICWL held in Portland in June 2017, planning is underway for the 12th ICWL workshop. The Department of Primary Industry and Regional Development (DPIRD) and the Western Rock Lobster Council (WRLC) are pleased to be hosting the 12th workshop in Western Australia in 2020. The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) have indicated their strong support for the workshop. The lobster workshop series began in Western Australia 40 years ago when a group of 37 lobster biologists from 6 countries met in Perth, Australia to discuss and compare their work on lobster ecology, physiology, and early stock management protocols, and to find common themes amongst the different species that were commercially fished. In recent years participation has risen to about 150-200 people from 20 countries and 2020 will see the workshop return to where it all began. At this stage the likely time is October/November 2020 and the likely location is Fremantle which is a major port for the western rock lobster fleet, 20 km from Perth, the capital city of Western Australia. We will keep you informed as soon as these are confirmed. We will be launching the 12th ICWL website in early 2018 which will be updated as planning progresses. The western rock lobster fishery in Western Australia is the largest single species fishery in Australia with a value of AUD$400 million and it has a long history of research, management and compliance which is highly regarded. The WRLC and DPIRD are looking forward to hosting scientists, managers and industry participants in Western Australia in 2020.

Co-hosts: Nick Caputi Department of Primary Industry and Regional Development Email: [email protected]

Matt Taylor CEO, Western Australia Rock Lobster Council Email: [email protected]

Statue in honor of Fremantle’s pioneering rock lobster fishers.

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Editors:

Nick Caputi Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories PO Box 20 North Beach WA 6920 AUSTRALIA

FAX: (618) 9203 0199 Nic [email protected]

Richard A. Wahle School of Marine Sciences University of Maine Darling Marine Center Walpole, Maine 04573 USA [email protected]

Assistant Editor – This Issue:

Maura Niemisto School of Marine Sciences University of Maine

Darling Marine Center Walpole, Maine 04573 USA [email protected]

The Lobster Newsletter is published electronically once or twice yearly.

Contact Nick Caputi (southern hemisphere) or Rick Wahle (northern hemisphere) about article submissions and inquiries or corrections to the Lobster Newsletter mailing list.

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