DV-15-13 Evaluating the impacts of climate change on suitable habitat and reproduction of northern shrimp in the Gulf of Maine

Yong Chen
University of Maine

Katherine Thompson
Maine DMR

The Gulf of Maine northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) supports an important fishery in Maine. Since 2010, however, the stock has declined precipitously, and the fishery has been closed since 2013. It is believed that changes in shrimp habitat as well as high fishing pressure are to blame for declining populations.

Understanding how warming temperatures affect northern shrimp distribution can inform future management of the fishery.  Sea Grant funds supported the purchase of temperature and depth loggers, which were deployed during DMR’s 2016 and 2017 shrimp sampling seasons. As the Chen Lab completes the analysis and model projections of future shrimp habitat, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is already using the temperature data for the stock assessment.

Sea Grant funds: $2,380