Is that a rocket on that lobster? No, it’s just a satellite tracker
Some of the research being conducted by the University of New Brunswick sparks interest — and humor — online as a PhD student studies the movement of lobsters in the Bay of Fundy.
Last fall, researcher Emily Blacklock set out with fishermen to attach large, black cylinder trackers to 20 lobsters recording their migration.
She wants to understand the path of the crustaceans during the winter months until they molt in late summer – and why they move the way they do.
“We will be able to get the first most detailed data on different aspects of the movement of the mature lobsters in the Bay of Fundy,” Blacklock told CBC Radio’s Information Morning Nova Scotia.
“The depth and temperature that the lobsters experience almost over an annual cycle has not been done before.”
She said the data collected will also include the approximate location, depth and water temperature of where female lobsters incubate their eggs. That could indicate areas where people should “look at what we’re doing in the water.”
“So we wouldn’t want to put up an aquaculture farm with open cages where they incubate their eggs.”
To collect this data, Blacklock included satellite trackers, the shape of which raised some questions.
She said she’d heard it described as a torpedo, a space rocket, and some other unnameable items.
“I try to educate people the best I can because I know they are strange things to see if you’ve never seen them before,” she said. “I’ve heard all the jokes about what it could be.”
Trackers will remain active until August 10
The trackers used are called pop-up satellite archiving tags, which attach to the lobsters using 3D-printed biodegradable plastic brackets secured with super glue and epoxy.
Blacklock said there was some concern about how the trackers would affect the lobsters.
“It’s not always something people expect to see on a lobster. We’ve done quite a bit of behavioral testing and are currently working on publishing a paper on how it would affect their behavior,” she said.
“But these tags aren’t heavy, they float, and all the lobsters we use are pretty big.”
Information morning – NS6:45UNB researcher tracks lobster in Bay of Fundy – with an unusually shaped device
Some research being conducted by the University of New Brunswick is garnering interest — and humor — online as a doctoral student studies the movement of American lobsters in the Bay of Fundy. To track the lobsters, Emily Blacklock attached satellite tags to their backs, but the shape of the tags has sparked online speculation.
The tags will remain on the lobsters for about eight to 10 months before deploying and floating to the surface, which is scheduled for Aug. 10 at 8 a.m. AT.
Using a solar panel and satellites, the data is then accessible to Blacklock and her team. Any remaining glue or epoxy will be shed when the lobsters molt in late summer, she said.
Looking to retrieve trackers
Blacklock said some of the lobsters tracked have already been brought in by fishermen, which is likely to happen again, but she has a plan for that.
She wants fishermen to call her immediately so she can help get them back to the water.
And if the fisherman makes a video of them returning it, they’re entered into a $200 drawing, she said.
Blacklock said some of the trackers also left early and washed up in Nova Scotia.
She said if any trackers are found she would like to retrieve them so they can be used again.
“We want to get these tags back. They’re completely safe to handle, so if anyone can call me and let me know, I’d love to come meet them and get the tag back from them,” she said.
She said her contact details is on the tracker.
