9_Lobster Mitigation Plan.pdf

Sample Lobster Mitigation Plan

June 2020

Approved by:

NAVFAC PWD - Maine

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

Kittery, Maine 03904

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. Introduction

B. Lobster Removal and Relocation

1. Schedule 2.

3. Means and Methods

4. Data Collection

C. Reporting

D. Lobster Life History Review

E. References

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Lobster Mitigation Map

APPENDICES

Appendix A – Special License

A. Introduction The objective of this plan is to reach a set threshold while trapping and relocating lobsters in the project area. This threshold will be measured by “catch per unit effort” (CPUE), or 0.5 lobsters/trap/night set. Only a maximum of 0.5 lobsters/trap/night set prior to the start of dredging will need to be reached. Daily records of total lobsters caught, the number of traps hauled in each area, and the night set will be maintained to calculate daily CPUE values. A final report will be prepared once all field efforts are completed.

When the river bottom water temperature of the project area is less than 5°C, no lobster mitigation efforts will need to occur due to the limited mobility and catchability of lobsters at these low temperatures. When the temperature at the river bottom is above 5°C, lobster mitigation will be implemented.

Contractor will utilize the method of trapping with modified commercial lobster traps. These traps will be standard vinyl-clad wire lobster traps modified with the rear holding section, or “parlor,” covered in 1-inch mesh. Based on past permit requirements and work in the project area, such as Berth 11 and Berth 14 in February 2018, it is assumed that the areas to be dredged will have season lobster densities equal to or greater than the MDMR guidelines of 0.1 lobster/square meter. It is also assumed that lobster mitigation efforts will be required prior to dredging depending on the time of year when the dredging occurs. Pre-removal surveys will not be required as part of this effort.

Trapping efforts will target both legal and sub-legal sized lobsters. Sub-legal lobsters will be transported and released to the designated relocation site (Figure 1). This site is located in the Sound Basin off the southeast side of Seavey Island (Figure 1). Legal-sized lobsters will be kept and sold by the lobsterman.

Contractor shall obtain a Maine DMR Mitigation License Special License and provide proof to the Government. Contractor shall maintain the license as current throughout the lobster mitigation process.

Source: https://www.topoquest.com/map.php?lat=43.07946&lon=-70.73505&datum=nad83&zoom=4&cross=on

Figure 1. Lobster Mitigation Map http://www.topoquest.com/map.php?lat=43.07946&lon=-70.73505&datum=nad83&zoom=4&cross=on http://www.topoquest.com/map.php?lat=43.07946&lon=-70.73505&datum=nad83&zoom=4&cross=on

B. Lobster Removal and Relocation

1. Schedule

Contractor shall monitor the river temperature in the project area at least two weeks prior to the start of any dredging work. A daily temperature measurement of the bottom of the river will be recorded with a YSI (or similar) meter. When the river bottom water temperature of the project area is less than 5°C, no lobster mitigation efforts will need to occur due to the limited mobility and catchability of lobsters at these low temperatures. When the temperature at the river bottom is above 5°C, lobster mitigation will be implemented.

Lobster mitigation will be completed no more than 14 days prior to the start of project dredging or bedrock removal activities. If dredging does not commence within 14 days of lobster relocation, the mitigation will be repeated to meet the requirements of dredging within 14 days of completion of mitigation. Based on lobster mitigation from previous projects in this area, the required CPUE may be met in 12 days of trapping or less.

2. Means and Methods

The trapping efforts will target both legal and sub-legal sized lobsters. Sub-legal lobsters will be transported to the designated relocation site (Figure 1). The lobster relocation site is the same as previous lobster relocations, located in the Sound Basin off the southeast side of Seavey Island (Figure 1). The lobsterman will keep and sell any legal-sized lobsters.

Standard vinyl-clad wire lobster traps will be used to trap lobster. These traps will be modified with the rear holding section, or “parlor,” covered in 1-inch mesh. Traps will be marked with special tags provided by MDMR Maine Patrol, and they will be identified with a distinct buoy in accordance with the DMR permit. The expected number of modified traps used to complete the mitigation efforts prior to dredging ranges from 30 to 50.

3. Data Collection

The intent of the mitigation effort is achieve the target CPUE of 0.5 lobsters/trap/night set.

Trapping must achieve a maximum of 0.5 lobsters/trap/night set prior to start of dredging. Daily records of total lobsters, caught, the number of traps hauled in each area, and the night set will be maintained to calculate daily CPUE values. These daily measurement efforts will be used as preliminary values.

Daily records will include the following statistics:

o Total number of lobsters caught Legal or sub-legal o Sex o Cull o Eggs/v-notch o Shell disease observed

• Total number of traps hauled in each area

• Night set

C. Reporting A final report will be prepared and submitted to MDMR and the Government. This report is required by special license and will provide the following information:

• A Summary of field methods and field observations, and

• Data collection results for each dredge event.

APPENDIX A – SPECIAL LICENSE

C. Reporting