Interactions between American lobster (Homarus americanus) and salmonid aquaculture in the Canadian Maritimes

Abstract

Salmonid aquaculture occurs in coastal Atlantic waters around the Canadian Maritimes and can overlap with the American lobster (Homarus americanus) fishery, the most profitable fishery in the region. There has been debate around whether there is potential for salmonid aquaculture to negatively affect the fishery that has been heated in both the scientific community and public news media. This review and resultant commentary explore the developing research approaches used in the Canadian Maritimes to examine known and inferred interactions between these two important industries. We re-examine some inferences of previous research and identify low-oxygen environments and improper use of therapeutants as having the greatest potential to adversely affect lobsters, although there are knowledge gaps. We further discuss the implications of whether localized lobster displacement from a farm area would have any measurable impact on the lobster fishing industry as a whole, using examples from Nova Scotia, Canada. In most instances, existing regulatory compliance addresses the drivers that have the largest potential to adversely impact lobster.