The Status of the
Lobstering Industry
Pamela A.E. Lynch
Homarus americanus
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INVERTEBRATE!!!!!!!
Phylum: Arthropoda
Sub Phylum: Crustacea
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
LOCATION
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Where found?
“Inshore species” 0 - 50 km
“Inshore species” 40 m max.
depth
“Offshore species” 50+ km
“Offshore species” 100-600 m
max. depth
MIGRATION causes MIXING
Long Island is the 3rd largest Lobster producing area on the East
Coast, behind Maine and Mass.
All about Lobsters
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Habitat
Anatomy
Factors Affecting lobsters
Growth rates/Reproduction
Myths and facts
The Lobster Fishery
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5 main lobster production
states in U.S. : Maine, RI, Mass.,
NY and NJ
“Traps” are most popular
Year round fishery, but some
data shows most pressure in
June/July (molting time)
Historic Lobstering
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15th Century Monsters
1800’s rise
Permits and Regulations
Industry
Fishing Tales
Current Lobstering
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The decline
The fishing plight
The results
More fishing Tales
Current Regulations
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Sustainable Fisheries Act
Magnuson - Stevens Act
EFH (Essential Fish Habitat) as set forth by
the National Marine Fisheries Service
Old and New additions
ASMFC
Finfish and Crustaceans Unit, NYSDEC
Region 1
Survey Cards
Magnuson - Stevens Act:
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“One of the greatest long-term
threats to the viability of
commercial and recreational
fisheries is the continuing loss of
marine, estuarine, and other aquatic
habitats. Habitat considerations
should receive increased attention
for the conservation and
management of fishery resources of
the U.S.”
1996
Habitat Alteration by Fishing
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Stationary Gears
Dredging/Filling
Agricultural/Urban runoff
Direct Discharge
Exotic Species Intro.
EFH (Essential Fish Habitat)
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“Overfishing is the DOMINANT
cause of fisheries decline, both
recreationally and
commercially, but we must also
consider gear use, habitat
changes and habitat loss
impacts.”
1996
Sustainable Fisheries
Act
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“A national program for the
conservation and management of
the fishery resources of the U.S. is
necessary to prevent overfishing, to
rebuild overfished stocks, to insure
conservation, to facilitate long-term
protection of essential fish habitats,
and to realize the full potential of
the nation’s fishery resources”
1996
Other Regulatory
”Ideas”
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Closed areas/seasons, 1994 License Moratorium
Larger females
Limit of entry
Trap number
“V” notching
Boat buy backs
Biodegradable Traps
Reduce Effort Overall
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Aquaculture
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Lobster Disease
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History
1920’s fishing impoundments
lead to Gaffkemia
Research
Results
Where are we now?
What will the impacts be to the
industry?
2000 EVENTS
1. What has happened?
2. Mosquito Spraying?
(Methoprene, Malothion and
cis, trans Resmethrin)
3. State of the LI Sound?
4. Designated Research?
2 separate lobster
diseases identified
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Western Sound:
“Paramoebiasis” caused by a binucleated Parameoba sp. that
ingests nervous tissue
Eastern Sound: “Shell Rot
Syndrome” caused by a
bacterial infection (microorganisms attack Chitin shell)
Monthly population percentages of lobsters with shell diseases collected
in eastern Long Island Sound waters 1998-2001.
LIS CMP (1994)
“7 critical issues:”
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Low Dissolved Oxygen, “Hypoxia”
Toxic contamination
Pathogen contamination
Floatable debris
Living Resources/Habitat Mgmt.
Land Use/Development
Public involvement/education
What did they look at as
potential causes?
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Sewage and treatment plants,
dredging, pesticide usage, West Nile
Virus, weather patterns, thermal
changes (2 degrees C 1997-2000),
Plum Island facility, introduced
agents, anthropogenic disturbances,
toxicology (metals), water
chemistry, benthic contaminants,
DO, Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S),
Ammonia levels etc.
Catch Loss
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1998: 7.9 million lbs.
1999: 6.5 million lbs.
2000: 3 million lbs.
2001: similar trend to 2000
Declared to be “a commercial
fishery failure on the Sound.”
NYSDEC, 2000
2001 Events
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(Newsday, July): “The US Dept.
of Commerce approved s $3.65
million dollar financial
assistance program for
fishermen…for new job training,
direct payment of losses, new
gear changes, boat buy-backs.”
Congress Total = $13.9 million
Lobstermen’s Impacts:
What about the “Human
Ecosystem?
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“Fishing is NOT an occupation, but a
commitment and interdependence to
the marine environment.”
Lobstering is NOT just a job.”
Impacts: Social, economic, relocation, psychological,
physiological (stress, anxiety,
alcoholism), Family (children,
divorce), employment etc.
Summary
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Final thoughts of future Marine
Habitat and Species Protection
Governmental vs. Non-profit vs.
Educational facilities
RESEARCH
EDUCATION!!!!!!
KNOWLEDGE
palynch@gw.dec.state.ny.us
NYSDEC - Region 1
Marine Habitat Protection
Building 40 SUNY
Stony Brook, NY 11790
(631)444-0229