Science Response 2011/002

Landings, Lifecycle, and Utilization of Habitat for Lobster in the Vicinity of two Proposed Finfish Aquaculture Sites in St. Mary’s Bay, Nova Scotia

Context

On November 24, 2010, Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Habitat Protection and Sustainable Development (HSPD) Division, Maritimes Region, requested that DFO Science,  Maritimes Region, provide advice regarding lobster landings, lobster lifecycle, and lobster utilization of habitat in the vicinity of two proposed finfish aquaculture sites in St. Mary’s Bay, Nova Scotia. The request for advice is in support of HPSD’s review of an environmental assessment (EA) of a proposed aquaculture development project pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Specifically, DFO HPSD asked:

What are the lobster landings in the vicinity of the proposed finfish aquaculture sites relative to adjacent areas and what lifecycle stages and for what purposes do lobsters utilize the habitat at 45-60 m water depth in the vicinity of the two proposed finfish aquaculture sites?

Based on the question that was posed, the objectives of the DFO Special Science Response Process (SSRP) are:

1. Identify the lobster landings in the vicinity of the two proposed finfish aquaculture sites relative to adjacent areas in St. Mary’s Bay, Nova Scotia; and
2. Identify lobster lifecycle stages in regard to lobster utilization of habitat at 45-60 m water depth in the vicinity of the two proposed finfish aquaculture sites in St. Mary’s Bay, Nova Scotia.

The SSRP was based on existing data sources from St. Mary’s Bay, which are limited in number and of lower resolution and scale relative to the location and size of the two proposed aquaculture sites. An SSRP was used due to the short deadline for advice of January 15, 2011.

In summary: 1) lobster landings are high in the reporting grid in St. Mary’s Bay in which the DEPOMOD area of sensitivity (DAS) resides; 2) planktonic lobster larvae have not been studied in St. Mary’s Bay, although they are likely found throughout much of the bay including the DAS; 3) settlement by young-of-year lobsters in the DAS is possible, but is expected to be low compared to shallower, cobble bottoms in St. Mary’s Bay; and 4) adolescent and adult lobsters most likely use the DAS at various times of the year. Additional research would be required to more fully address some of the points discussed in this response.

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