In an intriguing turn of events, a lobster tagged by a research team from the University of New Brunswick was caught over 250 kilometers away in the Gulf of Maine, providing a fascinating glimpse into the migratory patterns of these crustaceans. Emily Blacklock, a PhD candidate involved in the study, stumbled upon a video on social media showing a Maine fisherman, Jacob Knowles, with the tagged lobster, marking a significant find for the research team.
The research, led by UNB professor Rémy Rochette, aims to develop methods for determining the age of lobsters, a challenging task due to their regenerative molting process. Since spring 2022, the team has tagged approximately 2,250 lobsters in the Bay of Fundy, attaching small plastic tags with unique IDs and contact information.
The recent discovery of the tagged lobster in Maine, far from its original tagging location in St. Martins, N.B., highlights the extensive distances these creatures can travel. Knowles, a social media influencer and fifth-generation lobster fisherman, shared the find with his millions of followers, initially mistaking it for a “lottery lobster” from a local tracking initiative. After Blacklock reached out to clarify the lobster’s part in the UNB study, Knowles updated his audience on the crustacean’s long journey.
This rare occurrence not only showcases the lobster’s ability to cover vast distances but also underscores the value of collaborative research and social media in tracking and understanding marine life migrations. As the study progresses and more tissue samples are collected, researchers hope to gain further insights into the age and travel patterns of lobsters, contributing to the broader knowledge of marine ecosystems.
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