Project

Ecosystem Change Indicators for Lobster

Developing lobster ecosystem indicators to improve fishery management strategies

The Maine lobster fishery exists in a rapidly changing ecosystem, and there is a clear need to understand how these changes impact lobster biology, population dynamics, and ultimately, the Maine lobster fishery. As part of the Maine Lobster Research Collaborative, we are developing and testing a suite of ecosystem indicators that can be used to explore connections between lobster biological processes and fishery management strategies.

Project Goals:

  • Develop a suite of lobster-relevant habitat and ecosystem indicators for the Gulf of Maine.
  • Analyze trends and relationships between indicators over time.
  • Evaluate the connection between indicators and lobster population dynamics.
  • Advance the collective understanding of the lobster population and fishery in a changing Gulf of Maine.

Lobster Dashboard Tools

Understanding ecosystem indicators, like lobster landings and bottom temperatures over time, can help fishery managers develop more forward-thinking management strategies.

A map that shows different colors for different levels of lobster landings.
This image depicts shows different shades of blue in the gulf of maine representing different bottom temperatures throughout the region, over time.

Project Team

Project Sponsor

This project is funded by the Maine Department of Marine Resources through the Lobster Research, Education, and Development Fund.

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