8th ICWL Well Attended!

 The AVC Lobster Science Centre, at the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, in collaboration with the Prince Edward Island Department of Fisheries & Aquaculture, recently hosted the 8th International Conference & Workshop on Lobster Biology & Management (ICWL) at the Delta Prince Edward hotel in Charlottetown, PEI. The ICWL, held this past September 23-28, was extremely well attended with over 275 scientists, fishery managers, processors, government representatives, and industry representatives from more than 20 different countries participating in this week long event.
The 8th ICWL definitely continued the tradition established through the previous 7 conferences, with high-quality scientific oral and poster presentations and mingling of scientists, managers, academia, and industry representatives in a friendly, informal and enjoyable atmosphere. The Conference was opened by the Honorable Allan Campbell, Minister of the PEI Department of Fisheries & Aquaculture, followed by words of welcome from Dr. Timothy Ogilvie, Dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island. Dr. Peter Lawton, Director, Centre for Marine Biodiversity, at Fisheries & Oceans Canada was the ICWL keynote speaker and set the tone for an entertaining conference by putting on a furry lobster hat for a portion of his presentation!
The 8th ICWL had an amazing 154 oral presentations and close to 60 posters. A special Lobster Behaviour Symposium was also organised and consisted of contributed presentations and invited talks to highlight the 40 years of achievement in this specific area by Prof. William Herrnkind, who is now retiring. Have you ever wondered how the lobster fishery is managed in other parts of the world?
To answer this question, the ICWL included a special Industry Day session that focussed on lobsters fisheries from the perspectives of managers and industry from Canada, USA, Australia, Europe, South Africa and New Zealand. This Industry Day proved to be very successful with over 100 attendees and even featured a public address over lunch from Dr. Wendy Watson-Wright, the Assistant Deputy Minister, Science Sector of DFO. Trevor Corson, author of "The Secret Life of Lobsters" was the special guest speaker at the ICWL banquet dinner. Not only did he gave a few anecdotes about the research he did for his book, but his skills as a stand-up comedian were just what was needed to set the tone for an entertaining evening! The banquet also featured a dory filled with over 225 kg of cooked lobsters in the middle of the buffet service table; what's a lobster meeting without a lobster feed?!?
The 8th ICWL Organising Committee would like to acknowledge the following sponsors of the workshop, without whom this event would not have been possible; Darden Restaurants, Canadian Gold Seafood Company, Orion Seafood International, Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture & Fisheries, NSERC Atlantic, PEI Fishermen's Association, Clearwater Seafood, PEI Business Development, Ocean Choice International, Millbrook First Nation, Atlantic Veterinary College, Ferguson's Lobster Pound Co., Tasmanian Aquaculture & Fisheries Institute, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, Lobster on the Wharf, University of Prince Edward Island, Sea Grant Florida, Sea Grant Connecticut, Sea Grant Woods Hole, Murphy Group of Restaurants, Fisherman's Market, and the PEI Department of Tourism. The host sponsors for the ICWL were the AVC Lobster Science Centre and the PEI Department of Fisheries & Aquaculture. ~ Jean Lavallée, Research Scientist, AVCLSC

Moult & Quality Monitoring in LFA's 33/34 (Update at November 2007)

Successful Workshop on Bitter Crab Disease

Sample Collection: Biochemistry Panels

Moult & Quality: 2^nd Phase Begun

The second phase of the Moult & Quality project has begun with successful sampling trips to Howard's Cove, PE and Port Latour, NS. On these trips data such as Carapace length, sex, shell hardness, pleopod staging, Brix indices, collection of haemolymph, and plasma samples were completed. The results of these trips, along with others, will help set a baseline of lobster health in the region going forward. It will also be used in genetic and biochemical research projects throughout the region and abroad. I would like to extend thanks to Mr. Shawn Cook and crew of the Sea Prowler in Howard's Cove and as well the crew of the Little Lady in Port Latour. ~ Brad Bernard, Field Technician, AVCLSC.