Lobster Science Workshop to Address Ecosystem Health
The AVC Lobster Science Centre located at the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI, will host the 3rd annual Lobster Science Workshop on July 26 and 27 at the Delta Prince Edward hotel, Charlottetown, PEI.
The theme of this year's workshop is Marine Ecosystem Health: Crustaceans and their Environment. Keynote speakers and#150; including marine geologist Gordon Fader of the Bedford Institute of Oceanography and Richard A. Wahle, senior research scientist of the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in Maine and#150; and researchers from the AVC Lobster Science Centre will discuss current research as well as marine habitats using seabed mapping techniques, ecosystem-based crustacean research, invasive species, potential impacts of the oil and gas industry, and larval drift.
"The AVC Lobster Science Centre workshop has quickly become the benchmarking science workshop for the Canadian lobster industry," says Jean Lavallee, clinical scientist at the AVC Lobster Science Centre and Chair of the Lobster Science Workshop. "We are looking forward to exploring key issues related to marine ecosystem health in an effort to gain further knowledge for the health and sustainability of the industry." Ed Frenette, Executive Director of the PEI Fishermen's Association, believes the workshop focus is timely and of great benefit to organizations such as his. "The topics to be discussed this year are crucial to the future of our lobster fishery," says Frenette. "Ecosystem changes are affecting the fishery and the scientific information being provided at this workshop is crucial to fishers' understanding of the resource." The workshop begins with registration and a meet and greet the evening of July 26. The Honourable Jim Bagnall, Prince Edward Island's minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture, will open the workshop the morning of July 27. Presentations on ecosystem health and the AVC Lobster Science Centre, as well as applied lobster fishery research will be delivered throughout the day. Further information on the workshop, including the agenda, is available by visiting www.lobsterscience.ca.
The AVC Lobster Science Centre is a research centre within the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI dedicated to conducting lobster health research to promote the health and sustainability of the lobster industry. The centre is located on the UPEI campus situated on Canada's Atlantic coast, providing ready access to the lobster industry. The centre's projects are aimed at enhancing the research and development capacity for lobster health in Atlantic Canada through technical studies. The lobster industry in Atlantic Canada has a landed value of over $600 million and an estimated overall value of up to $2 billion.
