Project abstract purpose: crustaceans (lobster, crab, and shrimp) form the foundation of many of the most valuable fisheries in the united states

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded the University of Maine System a $167,311 Cooperative Agreement under the Sea Grant Support program (CFDA 11.417) effective September 1, 2025, through July 31, 2028. This award funds a comprehensive research initiative to evaluate and standardize methodologies for determining size at morphometric maturity in commercially important crustacean species, including lobster, crab, and shrimp. The project will conduct a systematic review of all documented approaches to estimating crustacean size at maturity using morphometric data, perform rigorous simulation testing to compare model accuracy across varying conditions, and develop an evidence-based guide for selecting optimal modeling approaches based on specific dataset characteristics.

The deliverables include the creation and maintenance of an open-source R package for estimating size at maturity based on morphometric data. This research directly supports sustainable fisheries management by providing fisheries scientists with validated quantitative tools to accurately assess crustacean reproductive maturity—a critical parameter for stock assessment and management, particularly as climate change and warming ocean temperatures present emerging challenges to marine resource sustainability. The work will be performed at the University of Maine's location in Orono, Maine.

Expected outcomes

This project will produce the first systematic review of morphometric maturity models, along with guidelines for using morphometric data to estimate crustacean size at maturity. Additionally, we will develop an R package to make these models publicly accessible. Finally, our work to quantify and visualize spatial variation in jonah crab size at maturity will improve our understanding of the reproductive potential of the species. Beneficiaries: the results of this project will be valuable for informing management strategies for jonah crab and other crustacean species. The knowledge and tools developed through this work will enhance the accuracy of stock assessments and contribute to the long-term sustainability of U.S. Crustacean fisheries.