Fishermen, scientists expand search for young-of-year SNE lobsters

NARRAGANSETT, RI – Twenty one years after the first suction survey sampling in Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay of post-larval lobster settlers, known as young-of-year (YOY), Rick Wahle returned in 2011 and 2012 to resample the bay’s Southern New England nursery grounds. Despite including additional sites recommended by industry, the results were disappointing.

“It was rather disturbing. It was especially shocking that, in 2011, juveniles had fallen below detectable levels at the six sites that are sampled annually,” said Wahle, a marine biologist at the University of Maine’s Darling Marine Center.

 

Rick Wahle and his dive team monitor lobster settlement sites using the suction sampling method.

 

Read the rest and much, much more in the March issue of Commercial Fisheries News. Download a pdf for immediate access and future reference. 

LoadingUpdating...