Implications of ocean bottom temperatures on the catch ability of American lobster

Abstract

Since the beginning of the satellite era, the general trend of global and regional sea-surface temperature (SST) have continued to rise and, in the recent decade, the rate of warming has increased dramatically in the Gulf of Maine. However, due to variations in thermal stratification in the water column, SST is not the best measure to determine the impact on benthic organisms. So understanding the spatial and temporal variations of the ocean bottom temperature is critical to fisheries management. Since 2001, the Environmental Monitors on Lobster Traps (eMOLT) project has been implemented. The lobster fishermen have volunteered to collect bottom temperature and American lobster catch data from dozens of locations off the New England coast. Now we can use these data to analyze the relationship between ocean bottom temperature and lobster catch. Using data collected over the past decade, we examine the effect of temperature, temperature change, soak time and other factors on the catchability of lobsters. Our results suggest that there is a increase in catchability at the same time there is a) a temperature rise over many years and b) day-to-day temperature changes.