Multiparametric Decision Support Tool for the Opening Date of the Lobster Fishery in LFA 22 : Monitoring Lobster Eggs Development

Egg development analysis data during the 2020 lobster fishing season in LFA22. Monitoring the development of lobster eggs is included in the project Deployment of a multiparametric decision support tool for the opening date of the lobster fishery for Lobster Fishing Area 22 of the Rassemblement des pêcheurs et pêcheuses des côtes des îles(RPPCI), funded by the Quebec Fisheries Fund (MAPAQ and DFO), over 2 years.

Lobster eggs are taken from female eggs by two volunteer commercial fishermen who are part of the RPPCI. Eggs are harvested from 10 females once a week on each facade of the Islands (North and South). Fishermen also installed Minilog II temperature loggers supplied by Merinov on one of their cages. The analysis is done by Merinov using a binocular and Image Pro image analyzer software. The proportion of the eye to the egg, linked to the temperature data, makes it possible to estimate the hatching date of the eggs. In 2020, the commercial fishing dates were from 9 May to 11 July. Due to the Covid 19 pandemic, data for the first week could not be collected.

You can find the other project data in the catalog. Environmental monitoring data are available here (https://catalogue.ogsl.ca/en/dataset/ca-cioos_96bf3c76-a010-4637-bff5-59256f2637cc) and data on lobster monitoring in preseason fisheries can be viewed here (https://catalogue.ogsl.ca/en/dataset/ca-cioos_9c10259d-9433-4be2-abf9-7eb8b5fac5ad).