Facts on Lobster Fishing
People have regarded lobster as a food choice in varying ways during the history of the United States. The nature of lobster fishing has changed, too. Today, lobstermen use a trap fishing procedure for harvesting lobster for sale to consumers by way of seafood dealers. As with all commercial fishing endeavors, lobstermen must follow restrictions set by a combination of state and federal regulations.
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History
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At one time, lobsters existed in such abundance that the Native American population used lobster to bait fish hooks for catching other fish. Native Americans also used lobster remains as fertilizer for fields. Lobster was the "junk food" or "poverty food" of the time. By World War II, however, people regarded lobster as a delicacy. This gave rise to the lobster fishing industry. Early lobster fishermen hand-gathered lobster from tidal pools along the shore. As the popularity of lobster increased, lobster harvesting evolved to incorporate the use of lobster traps. Lobster fishing using traps began in Maine sometime around 1850. As of 2010, East Coast lobstermen ply their trade from Canada to New Jersey, according to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website.
Trap Fishing
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Lobstermen set baited lobster traps that attract the lobsters, generally making day trips in ocean waters to haul in between 150 and 400 traps each day. Often, a groundline on the ocean connects 10 to 25 pot "strings." A buoy, connected to the traps by a buoy line, allows the lobstermen to locate the traps, according to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The majority of lobster fishing efforts occur during the June to October interval.
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Marking
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Conservation-conscious lobstermen voluntarily mark reproducing females using a technique known as "V-notching" to identify these lobsters for release if recaught at a later time. Lobstermen practicing this technique cut a V-shaped slice from the lobster's tail flipper to identify the lobster as a breeding female, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute reports.
Restrictions
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The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission helps ensure that the state and federal regulations work well together, according to the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. Specific regulations include minimum and maximum size, release of egg-bearing females, and escape vents in traps that allow undersize lobsters to leave the trap. Size restrictions include a minimum size of 3 ¼ inches and a maximum size of 5 inches to allow the largest breeders to continue to produce eggs. Lobstermen take measurements from the eye socket to the start of the tail. Canadian regulations allow taking lobsters as small as 3 1/16 inches, and dealers may not import Canadian lobsters of that size into the United States.
Considerations
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One environmental concern with lobster fishing involves the potential of entangling larger marine animals, particularly whales. Floating groundlines can rise up in water columns, presenting a hazard. Massachusetts has taken action on this issue, and requires lobstermen to use sinking groundline in state waters throughout the year. Additionally, Massachusetts works with its lobstermen to identify and use measures to reduce risk to whales, such as through lost gear removal efforts and through restrictions on seasonal gear use in whale critical habitats.
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References
- Photo Credit lobster pots image by Tom Curtis from Fotolia.com
