Page 10

Inter-site comparisons

Over the study period and across all sites, density of lobsters ranged from 0 to 1.7 lobsters per m 2 (Table 3). Of the 8 sites where lobsters were found, the highest densities were observed at Allen Island, Port Clyde, and Vinalhaven-rocky, while the lowest densities were observed at Monhegan and Matinicus islands (Figure 7). Of the 5 sites that were studied in both
years, the density was higher in outer regions of the bay than in inner regions (Figure 8)

The size-frequency distribution of lobsters varied between sites (Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.001). Mean lobster size at each site varied from 30.9 ± 12.3 mm CL at Isle au Haut to 56.5 ± 13.2 mm CL in eelgrass beds on Vinalhaven (Figure 9).

Young-of-the year lobsters (i.e., < 16 mm CL) were found at 5 sites (Allen Island, Port Clyde, South Thomaston, and Vinalhaven-rocky; Figure 10). The months in which these settlers were found were May, September, and October (Figure 11).

Table 3. Density of lobsters (number per m2 ) at The Lobster Conservancy's intertidal study sites, Penobscot Bay Lobster Collaborative, 1998 and 1999. A dash indicates the site was not studied in a particular month.

Site
Sept 98
Oct 98
May 99
June 99
July 99
Aug 99
Sept 99
Allen Island
-
1.70
0.55
0.50
0.81
1.45
1.09
Port Clyde
0.80
0.40
0.30
0.45
0.85
1.20
0.60
South Thomaston
-
-
0.20
0.05
0.14
0.17
0.30
Isle au Haut
-
-
0.70
0.65
0.20
0.10
0.05
Vinalhaven: rocky
0.17
-
-
0
0.73
0.40
0.88
Vinalhaven: eel grass
-
-
-
0.07
0.38
0.40
0.03
Matinicus Island
-
-
-
0.04
0.05
0.10
-
Monhegan Island
-
-
-
0.11
0
0
-
Castine
-
-
0
0
0
-
-
Deer Isle
-
0
-
0
0
0
0
Islesboro: Grindle Pt.
-
-
0
0
0
0
0
Islesboro: Sprague Cove
-
-
0
0
0
0
0
Islesboro: Loranus Cove
-
-
0
0
0
-
-
Islesboro: Town Beach
-
-
0
-
0
-
-
Moose Point State Park
0
0
0
-
-
0
-
North Haven
-
-
0
0
0
0
0
Rockport
-
-
-
0
0
0
-
Stonington: Sand Beach
-
-
-
0
0
0
0