1984-85. The mean CL of tagged lobsters caught in commercial gear prior to the escape vent regulation 

 was 76.5 mm and was significantly smaller (t-test p<0.01) than the mean CL of 78.6 mm for tagged 

 lobsters caught with the regulation in force. Krouse and Thomas (1975) calculated selectivity curves for 

 lobsters caught in traps with various vent sizes (1 1/2, 1 5/8, 1 3/4 in). Traps fitted with a 1 3/4 in escape 

 vent had 50% retention of lobsters ranging in size from 75.4-78.8 mm CL. The mean CL of lobsters 

 caught in our wire traps since 1978 ranged between 70.8 and 71.8 mm and was lower than the 50% 

 retention sizes reported by Krouse and Thomas (1975). Thus, most of our tagged lobsters are able to 

 escape from vented commercial traps thereby decreasing the probability of their recapture in commercial 

 traps and increasing the proportions captured by unvented pots. 



Movement 



Because lobsters were tagged and released at the station where captured, any migrations from the 

 capture area could be detected at recapture. Recapture data from our sampling efforts and those of 

 commercial lobstermen were used to assess movement patterns. 



About 95% of the lobsters were recaptured at the release station with movements between stations 

 being minimal. Of the exchanges that did occur, most were between Jordan Cove and Intake. During 

 1976-77, when sampling was conducted at the Effluent station, only 58% of the lobsters released there 

 were subsequently recaptured there. Thirty percent moved to Jordan Cove, 9% moved to the Intake 

 station and 2.5% moved to Twotree. TTiis suggests that lobsters may visit the effluent area to feed since 

 it is a productive area for mussels and other benthic invertebrates. 



Tagging studies conducted in coastal waters of eastern North America indicate localized lobster 

 movement (Templeman 1935, 1940; Wilder and Murray 1958; Wilder 1963; Cooper 1970; Stewart 1972; 

 Cooper et al. 1975; Fogarty et al. 1980; Krouse 1980, 1981; Stasko and Campbell 1980; Ennis 1984). In 

 our studies 91% of the commercial recaptures occurred within the study area (Fig. 10, <8 km from 

 MNPS). Of the lobsters recaptured outside the study area, most moved to the east (97%; Fig. 11). Lund 

 et al. (1973) reported similar results for tagging studies in LIS. A few lobsters (n= 13) traveled considerable 

 distances where they were caught on the edge of the continental shelf (Figure 12). 



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