New research on key Netherlands’ lobster fishery

New research on key Netherlands’ lobster fishery Despite natural fluctuations, fishers, divers and scientists are becoming increasingly concerned about unexplained structural decline of European Lobster (Homarus gammarus) in the Netherlands’ Eastern Scheldt lobster fishery. Precise stock assessments are essential for understanding these declines and implementing sustainable management, but scientific knowledge on lobster stocks in the Netherlands is lacking. Seeing a need for action, local fishers in the Association of Professional Fishers Oosterschelde, Westschelde and Voordelta (OWV) developed a fishing plan to improve regional fisheries management. They engaged with the government and stakeholders to develop science-based fishery management strategies. Using the European Maritime and Fisheries Funds (EMFF), OWV teamed up with Wageningen University & Research to implement ‘LobStAR’, a plan to improving stock assessments through scientific innovations and improvements in research ...