LE3 .A278 2014

2014

Redden, Anna

Acadia University

Master of Science

Masters

Biology

Biology

This study examined American lobster (Homarus americanus) habitat and movements within Minas Basin and Minas Passage in advance of turbine installations at the FORCE test facility in Minas Passage, Bay of Fundy. Prior environmental assessment data, modeled current speeds and biogeophysical data from seafloor grab samples and seafloor video footage taken during the CCGS Hudson scientific cruise 2013-13 were used to prepare lobster habitat suitability maps for the Minas Basin, Minas Passage and Minas Channel. Although habitat quality varied spatially, most of the surveyed region represented good lobster habitat; less suitable areas were found with localized harsh conditions, e.g. scoured seafloor or high bottom drag. Vemco acoustic telemetry tags and VR2w receivers were used to track seasonal movements of lobster. Strategically deployed acoustic receivers were used to test the hypothesis that lobster move outward from Minas Basin through the FORCE test area in Minas Passage during late fall and inward in spring. A total of 125 adult lobsters were sourced from commercial catches in 2011 and 2012, fitted with Vemco acoustic transmitters and numbered disc tags, and released in Minas Basin. A total of 40-tagged lobsters (34 from 2011, 6 from 2012) were detected in Minas Passage, including FORCE and/or Minas Basin. More females than males were detected in Minas Passage; within both sexes, movement rates were variable. Although seasonal outward movement was detected for some lobsters, it appears that a portion of the population overwinters in Minas Basin. This conclusion is supported by two years of lobster tracking and interviews with six LFA 35 lobster fishers.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:346