Characteristics of the St. Marys Bay lobster stock in relation to scallop gear impact / by D.A. Robichaud, A.M. Williamson, and D.E. Graham. : Fs97-4/1955E-PDF

"An assessment of the impact of scallop fishing on the lobster fishery in St. Marys Bay, N.S. was undertaken to help alleviate a conflict that recently arose between the two fisheries. A diving survey undertaken during July 1986 showed that relatively high lobster densities (111 lobsters/1000 m²) occurred on rough, rocky bottom where no scallops were found. Lobsters at lower densities (2.5-15 lobsters/1000 m²) co-occurred with scallops on mud bottom interspersed with a few rocks. Although scallop density in the whole area surveyed was low (57.8 scallops/1000 m²), the animals were large (78% ≥ 120 mm shell height). Tagging results showed that the majority (91%) of recaptured (82) lobsters remained-in St. Marys Bay and that the average straight-line distance traveled by mature females was significantly (p < 0.01) greater (35 km) than for both mature males (16 km) and immature lobsters (12 km). Sales slip analysis showed that annual lobster landings and catch rates increased markedly between 1978 and 1986. Size-sex frequency distributions were obtained from 5152 lobsters caught at different locations inside St. Marys Bay with commercial traps and an experimental Rockhopper trawl. Although lobster fishing occurred in most of the Bay, dragging for scallops took place in <7% of the Bay in areas of low lobster density. The data suggest little adverse impact on lobsters by scallop dragging in St. Marys Bay"--Abstract, page iv.

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