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Lobster Deaths Linked to Mosquito Spray
Article
by Louis Porter. Reprinted with permission from The Advocate and Louis Porter.
The article originally appeared in the March 9, 2003 edition of The
Advocate, ©2003, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.
Permission to post this article has expired.
The article dealt talked about research into the relationship of pesticides in connection with the lobster die-off in Long Island Sound in 1999. Included is information on research by Dr. Sylvain De Guise, University of Connecticut. z
In a related development -- In March, lobstermen in Connecticut and New York were given approval by the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of New York to bring a federal class-action lawsuit against pesticide companies involved in the 1999 spraying of pesticides to control West Nile virus in the Long Island Sound. Any lobsterman who held a commercial license for Long Island Sound in 1999 may be included in the suit. z
The
Lobster Institute and Saltwater Marketing, LLC, have joined forces to
commercialize seafood-based innovations developed by the Institute and
associated researchers.
Saltwater Marketing, LLC, is a market development firm established by
Patricia Pinto in 2002 to serve as the commercialization arm for the Lobster
Institute. Pinto has over 30 years of experience in successfully building and
launching new markets and products, and forging strategic business partnerships.
In February 2003, Saltwater Marketing, LLC,
signed an exclusive Option to License Agreement with the University of Maine for
product and process technologies developed by the Lobster Institute, and
products developed by the Institute in conjunction with the University’s
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition.
The company’s business strategies are currently under development. A market assessment for each effort is being conducted as well as an assessment of the best commercialization approach. The company is investigating (1) sub-licensing agreements; (2) joint ventures with companies that have established brand names or distribution channels in the market/industry; and (3) building its own brands.
Saltwater Marketing is currently seeking founding management, advisors and ultimately, capital. For more information on this effort, contact Patricia Pinto at 207-878-9825 or email ppinto@maine.rr.com. z
Maine
Lobster Boat Races Provide Great Summer Fun
Jun 21
Boothbay Harbor
Jul 27 Harpswell
Jul
4 Moosabec
Aug 9 Winter
Harbor
Jul 20
Stonington
Aug 10 Pemaquid
Jul 26
Friendship
Aug 23 Searsport
Readers may contact the Lobster Institute for more
detailed information on any of the projects reported.
v
Long
Island Sound Lobster Health Symposium Reports on Shell Disease Concur with
Lobster Institute Research
-- Research findings presented at the Third Annual Long Island Sound Lobster
Health Symposium indicated that shell disease continues to be a problem in the
Sound. Researchers also reported
that attempts to transmit shell disease from diseased to healthy lobsters were
unsuccessful. This concurs with
1999 studies done by Lobster Institute associate researcher Dr. Deanna Prince,
in which she was unable to transmit a similar shell disease found in southwest
Nova Scotia. The mode of infection
spread remains unclear. In Dr
Prince’s studies the healthy shell was abraded with sandpaper contaminated
with bacteria from a shell disease lesion.
The sanded shell turned dark (melanized), but no shell disease resulted.
A paramoeba associated with lobster mortality thus far has not been
cultured nor has the paramoeba been passed to healthy lobster.
Other
topics covered at the Symposium included the status of the resource,
environmental stressors, physiological responses to stress, pesticides, and
parasites and disease. To request a
copy of the 72-page symposium booklet, containing a variety of research
abstracts, contact Nancy Balcom at Connecticut Sea Grant --
1-860-405-9127 or email balcolm@uconnvm.uconn.edu.
Appearance
of shell disease in lobsters.
v Lobster Institute Provides a List of “Lobster Experts” on Its Web Site -- The Lobster Institute’s Web site, www.lobsterinstitute.com, now offers a new service -- an international directory of researchers with expertise in a variety of areas related to lobsters. This list of Lobster Institute Cooperating Research Associates features scientists who specialize in everything from lobster biology and ecology, to lobster health, to food science and value-added seafood products. Each research associate has provided contact information, including address, phone, fax and email, as well as an indication of his or her areas of expertise. “This is a brand new service,” said Dr. Bob Bayer, Executive Director of the Institute. “We recognize this list is in no way complete, yet anticipate it will continue to grow. We encourage suggestions for additions to the directory and invite researchers who would like to be added to this resource guide to contact us.”
To access the list log on to the Lobster
Institute Web site at www.lobsterinstitute.org
and click onto the “Lobster Experts” page.
Those who would like to be considered for inclusion on the list, or would
like to suggest additions, may contact the Institute at 207-581-1443 or email
jean.day@umit.maine.edu.
v
Seafood
Pet Snack Research Receives MTI Funding -- The market for “functional pet foods” and nutraceuticals is one of
the fastest growing segments of the pet food industry. According to a Pet Food
Industry report, over 55 percent of U.S. households own at least one dog or cat.
In 2001, U.S. cat and dog food sales topped $11 billion. Over the last few
years, the “functional pet foods” segment has grown rapidly to address pet
owner’s concerns for the health and well being of their pets.
A Maine
Technology Institute (MTI) seed grant was awarded to Saltwater Marketing, LLC,
to reformulate a seafood snack prototype for people, developed by the Lobster
Institute and the University of Maine Food Science & Human Nutrition
Department, into a nutritionally rich pet treat. The product formulation
contains significant amounts of lobster or crab which are high in phosphorus,
calcium and chitin -- necessary components in a nutritious diet. The pet treat
formulation will also be fortified with ground seafood shell, a naturally
occurring source of glucosamine that has been shown to significantly lessen pain
from arthritis and increase mobility in both dogs and cats.
Prototyping has begun and is scheduled be completed over the next few
months.
The goal is to develop a curriculum focusing on lobsters and the lobster industry that reaches across multiple subject areas through grades K-12, incorporating authentic-learning situations and aligned with the “State of Maine Learning Results”. The effort is an extension of the Lobster Conservancy’s Lobster Literacy Project. Preliminary focus will be on grades 5-8, and will eventually expand to include all grade levels. z
Back to Beginning
z
Get
Your Lobster Plate While Its Hot!
