Lobstermen worry mosquite pesticide threatening their livelihoods
NEWPORT, R.I.—Some lobstermen say a mosquito pesticide is finding its way into Narragansett Bay and threatening their livelihoods.
They say the use of methoprene is killing lobster larvae and inhibiting the molting of adult lobsters.
Newport lobsterman Patrick Heaney tells The Newport Daily News that local lobstermen are seeing a lot more lobsters with physical problems.
But there's no scientific consensus on the issue.
A 2007 study says methoprene has no adverse ecological impacts. But a 2005 study says it interrupts lobster molting.
Alan Gettman of the state Department of Environmental Management said there's no evidence that methoprene pellets placed in catch basins have any affect on lobsters.
He only minute amounts of methoprene ever even make it into the bay.
