The research vessel WEATHERBIRD II from Bermuda visited the Penobscot Bay region in July and August for maintenance work at Rockland Marine, followed by a research cruise sampling the larval stages of lobsters.
The objective of this cruise, sponsored by the Bigelow Laboratory for Marine Sciences in Boothbay Harbor, was to measure the vertical distribution of the various stages (there are four developmental stages that use the water column), and to see how these distributions vary with development and environmental conditions. These distributions are then compared with the ocean currents. from the Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System (GoMOOS) buoys and other sources, to understand how larvae are moved from egg hatching areas to settlement areas.
The cruise spent four days sampling in the shipping lane west of Vinalhaven, and six days in the coastal and offshore waters between Pemaquid and Frenchboro, under the direction of scientist Lew Incze. The work was done in deep water to avoid lobster gear.
The cruise used a sophisticated underwater sampler with nine nets and environmental measuring equipment to sample the various depths from the surface to about 30 feet off bottom, and satellite-tracked drifters to help measure ocean currents.
“The drifters attracted a lot of attention as they moved down the bay and along the coast,” said Incze. A number of lobstermen picked them up out of curiosity, and then called in their time and location, and generally returned them to the sea, as requested in a message written on the drifter vanes.
“The drifters have GPS units and communicate their positions to orbiting satellites, so their pathways through the water are known, but we still like to get them back when the experiment is over. We really appreciated the help we got with that part of the program,” Incze said. “Several of the drifters eventually drifted up on shore and were recovered by local fishermen and their children, and returned to us.” The scientist extended special thanks to Norah and Fiona Warren and Oakley Jackson of Vinalhaven and Knoep Neiuwkirk of Kennebunk.
Why a research vessel from Bermuda? WEATHERBIRD II had the type of winches and electronic gear needed to support the work, it was the right size, and it was available. Ships like this can be difficult to schedule, and the research team needed a small, maneuverable ship at a specific time when lobster larvae are present. The ship is part of a national fleet of research vessels available for work that is federally funded, and the operators thought a cruise in the Gulf of Maine would be a welcome diversion from the summer heat down south. The ship’s operators said that they received excellent service at Rockland Marine and would be glad to come to the area again.
The other lead scientists on the program are Greg Lough of Woods Hole and Hiuijie Xue of the University of Maine. This basic research on lobster biology and oceanography is being funded by the Maine Sea Grant Program and NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, which paid for the ship time. The work is part of a combined effort by a number of Maine scientists and institutions to try to understand the fundamentals of lobster population biology and recruitment. Results will be shared at next year’s Fishermen’s Forum, which has become a regular means for the scientists and fishermen to exchange data and ideas.