Movements, Growth and Survival of Marked and Tagged Lobsters Liberated in Egmont Bay, Prince Edward Island

Abstract

The average straight line distance between release and recapture points of 253 tagged lobsters free 10 to 12 months was 7.3 nautical miles (13.5 km). Carapace-length growth increments per moult among 870 punch-marked lobsters recovered from the fishing grounds were independent of size and averaged 0.47 inches (11.9 mm) for males and 0.42 inches (10.7 mm) for females. Weight increments per moult varied from 4.0 to 7.5 ounces (113–213 g) for males and from 3.3 to 5.4 ounces (94–153 g) for females. Of the males, 17.8% moulted twice; of the females, 7.4%. Survival over a 10-month period was estimated to be 76.4%.