Recorded captures of American lobster Homarus americanus in Swedish waters and an observation of predation on the European lobster, Homarus gammarus

• Main Authors: Øresland, Vidar, Ulmestrand, Mats, Agnalt, Ann-Lisbeth, Oxby, Gert
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: NRC Research Press (a division of Canadian Science Publishing) 2017
• Subjects: European lobster; Homarus gammarus
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/77933; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/cjfas-2016-0532

The intentional or unintentional release of American lobsters (Homarus americanus), imported through the European seafood trade, has resulted in findings of H. americanus in European waters. A total of 36 specimens was recorded within a smaller area, half way along the Swedish west coast, between 2008 and 2016. The lobsters were caught by both recreational and professional fishermen and delivered to the Institute of Marine Research in Lysekil where species identification, measurements and genetic sampling were performed. Twenty-five of these lobsters were caught inside the sill of the Gullmar Fjord, most of them close to Lysekil harbor, where escapes from an illegal holding is suspected. Six females had eggs which in two cases were hybrids. While there is no evidence to suggest that a population has been established in the Gullmar Fjord, or elsewhere in Swedish waters, serious concerns must be raised regarding the possible consequences for the native species. An American lobster has for the first time been filmed eating a killed European lobster in Swedish waters. The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author.