Unlocking the mysteries of lobster health: how research is working to sustain a traditional fishery
The world’s experts on lobster health, biology and management will meet in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island this weekend for the 8th International Conference & Workshop on Lobster Biology & Management.
Considered the “Olympics of Lobster”, the conference– which is held every four years– will run from September 23 to 28 at the Delta Prince Edward and bring together more than 200 delegates from over 20 countries to examine lobster habitat, climate change, population dynamics, disease, management strategies and more. The conference is co-chaired by the Atlantic Veterinary College’s Lobster Science Centre and the Prince Edward Island Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
“People often wonder just how much there is to know about a lobster,”says Dr. Jean Lavallée, co-chair of the conference and a lobster scientist with the Atlantic Veterinary College’s world renowned Lobster Science Centre–the only lobster research facility in the world that is part of a veterinary college.
“What we know and are learning is incredible. But there is still a vast amount about this animal and how it grows, how it lives its life, and how it’s impacted by its environment that is still uncertain. At the conference we look at everything from how climate change impacts lobster and the food chain, to how we can apply basic veterinary medical principals to lobster that we would apply to other animals, such as cats and dogs.”
Lavallée, who is one of few veterinarians in North America with a graduate degree in lobster health, says the conference is the largest of its kind and is tremendously successful in bringing together lobster researchers, industry representatives, government partners, and fishers for the purpose of increasing overall knowledge of lobster fishery management and examining advances in lobster-related science.
“Having the world’s experts in lobster studies together in the same room plays a critical role in learning from each other to ensure our respective lobster fisheries remain sustainable and healthy,” explains Lavallée.
The economic value of the lobster fishery in Atlantic Canada is estimated at more than $1 billion.
The complete program for the 8th International Conference &Workshop on Lobster Biology & Management can be found at http://www.lobsterscience.ca/conference. The conference is the last of three major international aquatic species events co-hosted by the Atlantic Veterinary College in September. Mollusc Health and Disease Management, one of few comprehensive courses in the world dealing with shellfish exclusively, and a Bitter Crab Disease Workshop were also held over the past two weeks.
Funded by the four Atlantic provinces, the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI is committed to excellence and innovation in education, research, and professional services. Since opening in 1984, the College has graduated approximately 1,000 doctors of veterinary medicine, has become known around the world for its research capabilities, and is Atlantic Canada’s only full service veterinary referral hospital.
For further information, please contact:
Charlotte McCardle
External Relations, AVC Dean’s Office
902 566 0533
cmccardle@upei.ca
