Multi-scale Forecasts and Analyses for the Maine Lobster Fishery
Supporting lobster fishery decision-makers with forward-looking forecasts
The Maine lobster fishery, one of the most valuable fisheries in the United States, is grappling with questions related to how climate change may influence fishery operations and outcomes. Forecasts of stock and fishery conditions at multiple future time scales are relevant for decision-makers in this fishery, and our project supported the delivery of multiple forecasts to key Maine lobster fishery stakeholders.
Project Objectives:
- Improve existing forecasts of climate impacts on lobster recruitment and landings.
- Develop products to deliver forecast information to the Maine lobster industry.
- Promote understanding of informational needs with lobster industry stakeholders and gain input on product design, communication, and use.
- Sustain the delivery of the forecasts into the future.
The American lobster fishery is the most valuable in the United States and accounts for over 75% of the landed value of all marine species in the state of Maine. While landings have been high in recent years, the fishery operates in a rapidly warming ocean region that has experienced multiple marine heatwaves since 2012. Yearly changes in ocean conditions affect the seasonal timing of when lobsters become most catchable to the fishery and longer-term changes in climate can more dramatically affect the productivity of the lobster population in the future.
As these changes occur, making decisions based on past observations becomes less useful. Operational, investment, strategic, and management decisions made by stakeholders in the fishery may benefit from more forward-looking forecasts.
Our project advanced three forecasts at various time scales:
- A seasonal forecast of the date when the statewide fishery will switch to its high-landings summer period (Mills et al. 2017).
- A multi-year forecast of the volume of landings expected six to eight years in the future, based on observations in the American Lobster Settlement Index (ALSI) (Oppenheim et al. 2019).
- Multi-decadal projections of the size of the fishery over the coming decades, based on climate scenarios (Le Bris et al. 2018).
These forecasts were guided by input from industry and management stakeholders that helped hone the models and evaluate forms of information provided. We are working to incorporate ecosystem and fishery information and forecasts into a web-based dashboard, where interested lobster fishery stakeholders can access and use the data.
Project Team
-
-
-
Richard Wahle, Ph.D.
University of Maine
Project Sponsor and Partner
This project is generously supported by funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Headquarters Program Office under award NA16NMF4270229.
Read Next
-
Introducing our Climate Financing Program
Our Climate Financing Program is designed to help communities overcome the financial barriers to climate action. Whether supporting disaster recovery or enabling proactive investments in …
Perspectives
-
Gulf of Maine Warming Update: Fall 2024
Over the past decade, scientists have led a body of research that highlights the rapid pace of warming in the Gulf of Maine. To help …
Reports
-
Community Science 2024 Wrapped
We invite you to celebrate the efforts of community scientists, including thousands of students, across the Northeast as we reflect on their contributions in 2024.
Perspectives
-
One Year of Gulf of Maine Tastemakers
Last year we launched the Gulf of Maine Tastemakers program, in an effort to inspire and support regional retailers, restaurants, and institutions in sourcing at …
Perspectives