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New study: no pesticides found in Long Island Sound lobsters

HARTFORD — A new study says no traces of pesticides were found in lobsters collected in Long Island Sound in late 2014, boosting the belief that warming water t...
lobsters

HARTFORD — A new study says no traces of pesticides were found in lobsters collected in Long Island Sound in late 2014, boosting the belief that warming water temperatures is the main culprit in a huge lobster population decline in the state.

The findings renew questions about restrictions Connecticut passed in 2013 limiting the use of pesticides that can control mosquito populations that transmit diseases including the West Nile and Zika viruses.

Lobstermen supported the restrictions, believing pesticides contributed to lobster die-offs. Some municipal and environmental officials were opposed, saying the rules would restrict the use of effective mosquito control pesticides and there was no proven connection between pesticides and lobster die-offs.

The University of Connecticut and Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station tested 45 lobsters collected in Long Island Sound from Stamford to Stonington in October 2014.

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