Recently, the scientific publication of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea published the results of genetic research on lobster, which experts from the Marine Research Institute carried out in collaboration with Matís and funded by the Fisheries Project Fund.
Genetic samples taken from lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) from separate fishing areas in the Southwest and Southeast Iceland have shown that there does not seem to be a decisive difference in the genetic structure of the species from one area to another, even though up to 300 nautical miles are between areas (see photo with news). Labels have long shown that lobster is a very local species that does not move from one fishing area / spawning area to another. Fluctuations in catches, lobster size and recruitment have also varied over time, for example in the westernmost and easternmost fishing areas, and this was the motivation for this study.
The results of the genetic studies therefore strongly indicate that at the 4-8 week larval stage, lobster larvae move between areas with currents in the upper layers of the sea and then settle in holes in the clay bottom when the larval stage ends. Furthermore, it is clear that biological factors such as recruitment, lobster size and catch per unit of effort will continue to play an important role in the management of the fishery. The article can be read here.
Figure 1. Sampling locations 1-5. Lobster fishing area 2005-2009. The darkest areas show the largest catch (tonnes / sqm2). Red arrows represent the North Atlantic current and the blue coastal current. See photo.
For further information, please contact Guðjón Þorkelsson, gudjon.thorkelsson@matis.is.