Yong Chen
218 Libby Hall
School of Marine Sciences
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469
207.581.4303
ychen@maine.edu

Carl Wilson
Maine Department of Marine Resources

The American lobster supports the most valuable commercial fishery in the northeastern U.S., and the fishery is critical to the Maine economy. Landings have increased steadily since the early 1970s and fishing effort is intense and increasing throughout the species' range. Quantitative fisheries assessment plays a central role in fisheries management. Current stock assessment methods suggest that the Gulf of Maine stock is overexploited and vulnerable to collapse. Yet other studies and field observations suggest otherwise.

A total of nine sampling programs form the foundation of lobster stock assessment in Maine. The programs—from port sampling to trap surveys—vary in their history, design, data collected, and costs. Chen and Wilson will compare the different programs to evaluate the effectiveness of current sampling in quantifying the lobster fishery. The results may suggest ways to improve monitoring program design and optimize sampling efforts for greater efficiency and reduced costs. The framework developed in this study can be applied to other fisheries with multiple monitoring programs.

Two-year project, 2010-2012
Total Sea Grant Funds $127,890