December 9, 2019 — A marine biology researcher from the University of North Carolina is trying to figure out how far a female lobster will go to lay eggs.
Heather Koopman, senior scientist at the Grand Manan Whale and Seabird Research Station, has enlisted the help of Grand Manan fishermen to tag any female lobsters they catch and to report when they recapture one that’s been tagged.
“Some … have gone nine or 10 nautical miles in the space of a little over a week,” said Koopman.
“That’s kind of a distance for an animal … that size.”
It’s hoped the research will shed light on the range of the species and the health of the resource.
“I think our members are actually excited to see what’s happening with them,” said Bonnie Morse, Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association project manager.
More than 200 lobsters had been tagged for the project by Tuesday. Koopman said the project hopes to reach the 1,000 mark in the next few weeks.