Lobster, Lobster Everywhere

There was a time when eating lobster was the very definition of luxury. And, even though it is still considered a treat, it doesn't seem to have the same air of exclusivity that it once did. The reason for this is most likely rooted in the simple fact that lobster is not as rare or expensive as it once was. Now, that is not to say that lobster is cheap but there is a somewhat surprising fact that most people just don't realize and that is that the size of the lobster population has exploded in recent decades to the point where it is at an all-time high.

This is especially true in the U.S. state of Maine where lobster has long been a chief industry. The statistics show that over the last thirty years the growth in the population of lobsters has increased six fold in just the last thirty years. And, surprisingly, even scientists who study these tasty sea creatures are not sure why this is happening. Yes, there are a number of theories but none of them seem to answer all of the questions that have arisen on the subject. So, let's take a look at a few of the most likely scenarios.

Warming Seas Equals Better Breeding

There appears to be some truth to this fact given that numerous studies show that the waters off the coast of Maine are heating up faster than 99.9 % of the oceans around the world. And, it is true that relatively warmer waters are more conducive to the survival and growth of lobsters as it allows them to grow and bulk up faster. This means that they are able to survive and even dominate their environments far more easily as their added size keeps them safe from predators and allows them to muscle their way into areas where there is a greater food supply.

The strange thing about this fact is that as the population of mature lobsters continues to increase the population of baby lobsters appears to have taken a sharp decline. The latest studies indicate that the number of young lobsters has dropped by as much as 80% in the last decade or so and this could lead to a real population crisis in the coming years.

Lobster And The Next Generation

There are a number of reasons why making sure there are enough lobsters out there for future generations is important. For one thing, having a healthy and thriving ecosystem is a critical concern for the planet as a whole and lobsters are definitely a key link in their own environment and to the larger environment, in general. More importantly, to some, if there is a major drop off in the population of lobsters, especially in Maine which supplies a full 85% of the lobsters harvested in the United States, it would likely mean a devastating loss of business for a state that is already overly dependent on this industry.

Looking at all of the negatives involved with an industry of this size and import there is one thing that is certain and that is the fact that letting it decline to any significant degree would be a bad thing for the economy of Maine, the country and the world at large since the export of this product is essential to a growing number of businesses all over the globe.

The Role Of Over-Harvesting

As bad as the problem may be in the years to come regarding the marked decline in production of lobster young there is an issue which cannot be overlooked and, at this very moment, is a severe threat to the species and the industry that depends on it. Yes, we're talking about the problems with over-harvesting. As countless sets of studies have proven over the last several decades the increase in harvesting of lobsters especially off the coast of Maine has grown exponentially in the last hundred years or so. This is best illustrated by the fact that in 1900 there were just a few hundred thousand traps placed in the coastal waters off of Maine and in the years and decades since then that number has grown to be over four million lobster traps.

The Lobster Economy

The explosive growth in the number of traps has not been in correlation with the number of landings or boats that are being used in the process. The fact here is that the number of landings and boats used in the cultivation of lobsters has also increased dramatically over the last one hundred years but not nearly at the same rate as the number of traps. This simply means that the number of traps being deployed are coming from a fewer number of landings which means that the number of hauls and the profits associated with them are being taken in by an ever shrinking number or percentage of actual lobstermen and the companies that they represent. This means that the distribution of wealth surrounding the lobster industry is finding its way into fewer and fewer hands.