Project summary/abstract: purpose: the fishing community and fishery managers want more data on when and where different sizes and sexes of lobsters are found along the outer cape COD area,…

This $406,199 Cooperative Agreement award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Sea Grant Support program (CFDA 11.417) will fund a project to study lobster populations along the outer Cape Cod area. Scientists and fishermen will collaborate to collect detailed data on juvenile and adult lobsters, including their size, sex, presence of eggs, and water temperature. This data will be used to develop computer models that predict the timing and location of lobster larvae. The expected outcomes are improved management of the local lobster fishery by providing better information on where lobsters are found at different life stages. The award recipient, the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, a non-profit marine research organization, will lead the data collection and modeling activities. This project aims to build trust and cooperation between the fishing community, scientists, and fishery managers in the region.

Activities

Scientists and fishermen will work together to study lobsters, collecting juvenile and undersize lobsters with specialized traps and recording detailed information about lobster catches on fishing boats (including SEX, size, eggs, and water temperature). Computer models using the above data will be used to predict when and where lobster larvae are found.

Expected outcomes

New data will be collected in an area where relatively little is known. Management of the lobster fishery will be improved by using our data to gain a better understanding of where lobsters caught by fishermen off cape COD come from, where they grow up, and where they lay eggs.

Intended beneficiaries

The fishing community and fishery managers will benefit from the use of new data and improved management. Working together builds trust between fishermen, scientists, and fishery managers.

Subrecipient activities

Scientists will develop computer models and help fishermen collect data.