ALSF Lobster Symposium26-27 July 2011, Moncton NB

Improved understanding of lobster stock structure: industry leading academia

Presented by Rémy Rochette, UNB Saint John

The “Lobster Node” of the

Canadian Capture Fisheries Research Network

Lobster Node of the NSERCCanadian Capture Fisheries Research Network

5-year research initiative End year-1 December 31st, 2011

Large and evolving collaboration Industry▪ fishermen and fishermen associations

throughout Atlantic Canada DFO Science▪ SABS, BIO, GFC, IML, NLR

Academia▪ UNB SJ, U. Moncton, U. Laval, UPEI, U.

Sainte-Anne

INDU

STRY

GOVERNMENT

ACADEMIA

Related projets and funds…

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Strategic Project Grant: Age Determination in Crustaceans▪ Kilada, Rochette, Sainte-Marie, Campana

Strategic Project Grant: Lobster settlement and coastal biodiversity▪ Rochette, Hunt, Dufresne, Pohle

Discovery Grant: Lobster ecology▪ Rochette

New Brunswick Innovation Foundation Research Innovation Fund: Age Determination in Crustaceans▪ Kilada, Rochette

Research Innovation Fund: Lobster settlement and coastal biodiversity▪ Rochette, Hunt

Result of a consultation exercise with industry…

Objective: Better define/understand

“lobster biological units”, or “lobster stocks”, in Atlantic Canada

Outcome of consultation exercise with industry: Better definition/understanding of ”lobster biological

units”, or “lobster stocks”, in Atlantic Canada

2007 FRCC report on a sustainability framework for Atlantic lobster Identified this question as one of the major impediments

to best management of the resource

FRCC: Fisheries Resource Conservation Council

Fisheries Resource Conservation Council

> 40 management units in Atlantic Canada

management units do not reflect biological stocks….

Metapopulation dynamics and biological units (stocks) of American lobster Homarus americanus in eastern Canada

Overarching objective: Better define/identify lobster stocks, to assist the

development of best management practices▪ Better understand how different areas are inter-connected

and inter-dependent ▪ Identify critical brooding (and spawning) grounds▪ Identify critical recruitment areas▪ Where to monitor sustainability metrics

Does the model

successfully predict larval settlement?

How does movement of

benthic lobsters

contribute to connectivity?

Is there genetic

differentiation between

lobster stocks?

Is there spatial

variation in egg and larval

production?

How does larval

dispersal connect

lobster stocks and fishing

areas?

1

5

4

3

2

1 Is there spatial variation in egg and larval production?

• Quantify the abundance and size of “berried” females in different areas

Scientists and students involved: Patrick Ouellet, Bernard Sainte-Marie, John Tremblay, Michel Comeau, Rémy Rochette, Julien Gaudette, Marthe Larsen Haarr

1 Spatial variation in egg/larval production

• Berried females from NF to BoF• Abundance• Size• Egg development stage (timing of

larval release)• Clutch condition

• Eggs and larvae (geographic variation?)• Condition (lipids, RNA/DNA)• Larval performance (growth,

settlement)

1 Spatial variation in egg/larval production

• Development of standard protocols, tools and data base

http://biodiversitycollector.com/lobster-project-2011/lobster_index.php

>4,500 berried females, and counting...

2 How does larval dispersal connect lobster stocks and fishing areas? Large-scale individual-based bio-physical model to

estimate potential connectivity of lobster stocks through larval drift

Current model (Chassé & Miller 2010)

• expand to include entire range (NEMO-OPA)• improve biological inputs

Scientists and students involved: Jöel Chassé, Rémy Rochette, Brady Quinn

Destination of postlarvae

Origin of postlarvae

3 Patterns and processes underlying settlement of post-larvae?

Does the model successfully predict larval settlement? Determine whether there is significant recruitment on

fine-sediment bottoms

Scientists and students involved: John Tremblay, Rémy Rochette, Peter Lawton, Gilles Miron, Gudjon Sigurdsson, Kristin Dinning

3 Patterns and processes underlying settlement of post-larvae?

Elucidate link between larval supply and settlement Identify settlement hotspots Estimate inter-annual and spatial variability in settlement

Scientists and students involved: John Tremblay, Rémy Rochette, Peter Lawton, Gilles Miron, Gudjon Sigurdsson, Kristin Dinning

0.3

0.3-0.5

0

0-0.06

0.09

0-0.06

0.051.2

1.0

GOODMODERAT

ELOW

4 How does movement of benthic lobsters contribute to connectivity?

Movement (site fidelity, seasonal migrations) of juvenile and adult lobsters

Traditional tagging studies and ultrasonic telemetry

Scientists and students involved: Michel Comeau, Rémy Rochette, Peter Lawton, Bryan Morse

VRAP study in 2010(≈1000 m2; 20-50 mm CL)

1) Real-time position information based on triangulation (RAPT)– 100-200 m study triangle

20.3 mm CL 47 mm CL

• 25% of time out of shelter (daily average, n=10)• Min: 3.5% (25 mm CL)• Max: 62% (31.3 mm CL)

• Significantly more active during nightly high tides

2) Archived position information based on triangulation (e.g., VR2)

200-300 meters

VRAP and VR2 study in 2011 (2-4 km2; 25-120 mm CL)

5 Is there genetic differentiation between lobster stocks?

Takes advantage of recent developments in the field of molecular ecology Non-neutral genetic markers▪ More likely to reveal finer spatial-scale genetic

structuring than neutral genetic markers▪ More likely to reveal adaptation to local conditions

Scientists and students involved: Louis Bernatchez, Spencer Greenwood

Kenchington et al. 2009

Our goals within the NSERC Network…

1. Improve our understanding of lobster stock structure and connectivity

2. Identify areas particularly important to sustainability:

1. larval production2. larval settlement

3. Build the collaboration and its research capability…

Where we are now…

1. We have developed a research agenda that will enhance our understanding of lobster stock structure and connectivity

2. Our most important accomplishment to date is arguably the large tri-partite collaborative platform we have developed, as it is essential to the realization of this and future research initiatives spanning the range of the species in Atlantic Canada

3. We have identified inequalities in the ability of industry to participate in the research, and acknowledge these deficiencies need to be addressed

Where to next…

1. We are pursuing additional sources of funding, to deliver on our research agenda and help industry fully participate

2. We have since the spring been elaborating a proposal to ACOA’s AIF for this purpose

3. The AIF project would also involve research on the most appropriate sustainability indices for the industry, and the creation of self-financed system for the ongoing collection and analysis of lobster sustainability data/indices

4. Discussions are on-going with different members of the value chain to refine our proposal

Questions

Photo Brent Wilson

AcademiaRémy RochetteGilles MironLouis BernatchezSpencer GreenwoodJean LavalléeMichelle TheriaultJerry Amirault

GovernmentBernard Sainte-MarieJohn TremblayJoël ChasséPatrick OuelletMichel ComeauLouise GendronRobert MacMillanPeter LawtonJulien GaudetteRob Stephenson

IndustryMarc AllainPatty KingKevin SquiresLeonard LeblancMario DéraspeGinny BoudreauEugène O’LearyAshton SpinneyChristian BrunMichelle ThériaultMaria RecchiaPeter ConnorsRonnie Heighton

IndustryDavid DeckerDarryl MacIverMartin MalletKlaus SonnenbergKeith PaughGordon MacDonaldDounia DaoudSylvia RumboltJackie BakerRachel LongMonty WayLaura RamseyNellie BakerNorma Richardsonand more to come…

One of the largest research initiative on American

lobsters to date

17 industry organisations

5 universities 5 government research facilities