Use of avoidance responses to keep spider crabs out of traps for american lobsters
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
1-1-1987
Abstract
Spider crabs Libinia spp. are a problem when caught in lobster traps because they have no market value, consume bait, occupy space in the trap, and increase trap-processing time. We conducted fishing experiments in which freshly crushed spider crabs were added to the bait in lobster traps. This treatment significantly reduced the catch of spider crabs compared to traps which contained only bait. American lobsters Homarus americanus, Jonah crabs Cancer borealis, and rock crabs C. irroratus were apparently not affected by the addition of crushed spider crabs. We hypothesize that the decreased catch of spider crabs was due to an alarm response elicited by compounds released from the crushed spider crabs. © By the American Fisheries Society 1987.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Transactions of the American Fisheries Society
Volume
116
Issue
2
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Anne Richards, R., and J. Stanley Cobb. "Use of avoidance responses to keep spider crabs out of traps for american lobsters." Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 116, 2 (1987): 282-285. doi: 10.1577/1548-8659(1987)116[282:UOARTK]2.0.CO;2.