Department of Fisheries Oceanography - MS Thesis Defense - Kyle Cassidy
When: Friday,
February 2, 2018
1:00 PM
-
2:00 PM
Where: New Bedford New Bedford, MA
Description: Department of Fisheries Oceanography
MS Thesis Defense
Decline of American lobster, Homarus americanus, abundance in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, USA between 2005-2006 and 2013-2014
by Kyle Cassidy
ADVISOR:
Dr. Kevin D.E. Stokesbury, Professor,
SMAST / Department of Fisheries Oceanography
COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Dr. Steven X. Cadrin, Professor,
SMAST / Department of Fisheries Oceanography
Dr. Rick Wahle,
University of Maine
February 2, 2018
1:00 p.m.
SMAST-East, rm. 101-102
836 South Rodney French Boulevard
New Bedford, MA
ABSTRACT:
American lobster (Homarus americanus) landings in the Gulf of Maine increased over the past decade, but the landings in Southern New England declined. In 2005-2006, 13 sites were examined in Buzzards Bay, and lobsters density was estimated using a ventless trap survey and tagging experiment. This study was repeated; examining the lobster density at the same locations using the same ventless trap and tagging design during the same months of 2013-2014. While Schnabel abundance estimates at each site were not statistically compared; the significant decline in catch per unit effort data indicated a decrease in the lobster population of Buzzards Bay. Decreasing lobster CPUE had a significant negative correlation with increasing water temperatures. Lobsters in southern New England are near their southern range limit and may be living above their thermal threshold. As sea temperature increases we expect lobster distribution to shift towards deeper cooler water. Several tag returns outside the Buzzards Bay area supported this hypothesis. Epizootic shell disease is also an increasing concern for the southern New England stock. The prevalence in Buzzards Bay is higher compared to rates in other stock area, but there was no significant increase in the prevalence from 2005 to 2014. In this study we determined that population levels have decreased suggesting that climate change and warming waters is having a negative effect on the local population.
for more information, please contact cfox@umassd.edu
MS Thesis Defense
Decline of American lobster, Homarus americanus, abundance in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, USA between 2005-2006 and 2013-2014
by Kyle Cassidy
ADVISOR:
Dr. Kevin D.E. Stokesbury, Professor,
SMAST / Department of Fisheries Oceanography
COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Dr. Steven X. Cadrin, Professor,
SMAST / Department of Fisheries Oceanography
Dr. Rick Wahle,
University of Maine
February 2, 2018
1:00 p.m.
SMAST-East, rm. 101-102
836 South Rodney French Boulevard
New Bedford, MA
ABSTRACT:
American lobster (Homarus americanus) landings in the Gulf of Maine increased over the past decade, but the landings in Southern New England declined. In 2005-2006, 13 sites were examined in Buzzards Bay, and lobsters density was estimated using a ventless trap survey and tagging experiment. This study was repeated; examining the lobster density at the same locations using the same ventless trap and tagging design during the same months of 2013-2014. While Schnabel abundance estimates at each site were not statistically compared; the significant decline in catch per unit effort data indicated a decrease in the lobster population of Buzzards Bay. Decreasing lobster CPUE had a significant negative correlation with increasing water temperatures. Lobsters in southern New England are near their southern range limit and may be living above their thermal threshold. As sea temperature increases we expect lobster distribution to shift towards deeper cooler water. Several tag returns outside the Buzzards Bay area supported this hypothesis. Epizootic shell disease is also an increasing concern for the southern New England stock. The prevalence in Buzzards Bay is higher compared to rates in other stock area, but there was no significant increase in the prevalence from 2005 to 2014. In this study we determined that population levels have decreased suggesting that climate change and warming waters is having a negative effect on the local population.
for more information, please contact cfox@umassd.edu
Contact: > See Description for contact information
Topical Areas: School for Marine Sciences and Technology, SMAST Seminar Series