We have been successful in receiving funds for the Atlantic Lobster Moult & Quality Project (ALMQ) through the Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF)
See press release on the ACOA website.
Project Summary
In summary the ALMQ evaluation project is divided into five "Major Activities"
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The FIELD MONITORING activity will collect biological data, including moult stage, on lobsters in southwest Nova Scotia and the Northumberland Strait. This database will be managed using software developed by AVCLSC for a similar, but smaller scale, collaborative program currently in operation in southwest Nova Scotia.
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The REPRODUCTIVE STATUS activity within the ALMQ will look at developing a reliable and accurate, non-lethal, method to assess the reproductive status of female lobster since the reproductive cycle in female lobsters is intimately connected with the moult cycle.
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The GENE DISCOVERY activity, in parallel with all other activities, will develop a cDNA library and EST database of lobster tissue expression to identify molecular markers associated with the moult and reproductive cycles.
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The BIOCHEMISTRY PROFILE activity will evaluate the use of hemolymph clinical chemistry as a tool to assess overall health status, moult recovery and reproductive status.
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A SERVICE UNIT will be established to increase the post-harvest productivity of the Canadian lobster industry. It will investigate and analyze lobster health and production problems, provide education through lobster health management programs, be a vehicle to evaluate techniques and tests developed in the laboratory under field conditions, and act as a liaison between the different sectors of the lobster industry and the AVCLSC providing an effective means of information exchange
Why is the research important?
The average landed value of Atlantic Canada’s lobster catch now amounts to an estimated 1 billion dollars. This figure increases substantially when returns to post-harvest sectors (meat processing plants, live shippers/dealers, food service industries, and other stakeholders) are considered.
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What is going on in the lobster life cycle?
In preparation for moulting, muscle mass (meat content) decreases to allow the animal to extract itself from its old shell. After the moult, the new soft shell must be re-mineralised and the lost muscle tissue regenerated. At this point, the lobster has ‘recovered’ from the moult and will be a top quality product for harvesting and later resale as live or processed product.
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What are the project components to be developed?
The lab-based component of the program will begin with the application of emerging, state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques...
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