DV-16-12 Impact of claw removal on Jonah crab survival

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

November 8, 2018

Jason Goldstein
Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
342 Laudholm Farm Rd
Wells ME 04090

In recent decades, landings of Jonah crab have more than quadrupled in New England. During harvesting, it is a common practice for fishermen to remove the claws of freshly caught Jonah crabs and subsequently return them to their environment. The biological implications of this harvesting method on Jonah crab health and survival remains unknown. The development of a successful fishery management plan will rely on the collection of important biological data.

As part of this pilot project, researchers addressed two key questions: (1) how does claw removal impact foraging behavior and overall activity of Jonah crabs and; (2) at what rate, if any, does claw regeneration occur? They developed a sensor to assess claw force as a proxy for health and a device to remove crab claws thereby reducing overall mortality. The results, while still preliminary, were presented to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to inform successful management practices for this commercially important, yet understudied fishery. Publications are pending.

Sea Grant funds $2,300