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Richard A. Wahle University of Maine | School of Marine Sciences

Ocean Acidification and the Challenges facing t he American Lobster Fishery in a Changing Ecosystem. Maine perilously dependent on one fishery. Lobsters at historic highs, but will it last? While UMaine leads research on lobster, OA effects are unknown. Richard A. Wahle

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Richard A. Wahle University of Maine | School of Marine Sciences

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  1. Ocean Acidification and the Challenges facing the American Lobster Fishery in a Changing Ecosystem • Maine perilously dependent on one fishery. • Lobsters at historic highs, but will it last? • While UMaine leads research on lobster, OA effects are unknown. Richard A. Wahle University of Maine | School of Marine Sciences

  2. Co-chairs: Rick Wahle (UMaine) Andrea Battison (CrustiPath) Paul Anderson (ME SG) Special issue Vol. 70 no.11 Nov 2013

  3. Animation Source: M. Fogarty, NMFS/NEFSC

  4. As other fisheries collapse American lobsters surge…. $1.09 billion in 2012 Source: US NMFS & Canada DFO

  5. Maine’s Historic Highs Value: $364M in 2013 ME MA RI

  6. A perilous dependency on one fishery Ting-Li Wang/The New York Times

  7. deplete large predators • booming lobsters… Photo: Curtsinger (Nat. Geo.)

  8. A Warming Gulf of Maine Since 2004: ~1°C every 4 years Since 1982: ~1°C every 40 years Source: Mills et al. 2013

  9. Hot and Cold Thresholds 12°C 20°C 12°C 20°C

  10. Southern New England’s receding lobster nurseries 2012 2011 1990 Narragansett Bay ↑Temp ↓DO, pH Wahle et al. in prep

  11. Shell disease spreads north 2012 2003 2002 2000 1997 1998 Source: MA DMF, ME DMR

  12. Ocean Acidification • North Atlantic acidifying faster than elsewhere. • OA effects poorly studied. • Interactions of OA with other stressors even less studied. • Effects are species- and life-stage specific (estimated 1700s – 1990s) Global Ocean Data Analysis Project

  13. Ocean Acidification Research on Lobsters and Crabs

  14. Forecasting • puts the future • in our hands • Lead time  • Choices  • Resilience

  15. American Lobster Settlement Index – An Early warning? Lobster Forecasts

  16. An Early warning system? Yes… but no crystal ball. Reported Landings ? Forecasts

  17. Challenges for Maine’s fishery • Adapting to a shifting geography & shell disease. • Minimizing the cost of fishing while maximizing value. • Scientific Challenges • Weighing interactive effects of the diabolical trinity: • warming – hypoxia - acidification. • Assessing life stage- and species-specific responses. • Building infrastructure and collaborations to do long-term controlled studies. • Supporting long-term environmental monitoring. • Communication and outreach.

  18. “We don’t really know the effects of ocean acidification on lobsters, but we do know the effects on shellfish and clams and it’s not positive. As long as the industrial nations of the world use fossil fuel, it’s going to get worse.” Dave Cousins, President Maine Lobstermen’s Assn. Bangor Daily News 1/13/2014

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