Post on 23-Feb-2016
description
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?
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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
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0.3-0.5
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0.09
0-0.06
0.051.2
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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