Lobsters are a beloved seafood delicacy, but have you ever wondered how many of these crustaceans are left in the world?
Despite being fished extensively, the population of lobsters remains stable, with an estimated 250 million American lobsters residing in the Gulf of Maine alone. However, uncertainty surrounds the total population of spiny lobsters and other tropical lobster species.
In this article, we’ll explore the current state of lobster populations around the world and the efforts being made to ensure their survival. From their habitats to their migration patterns, we’ll dive deep into the world of lobsters and uncover the truth about their numbers.
So grab a bib and get ready to learn about one of the most beloved seafood delicacies in the world.
How Many Lobsters Are Left In The World?
As mentioned earlier, the population of American lobsters in the Gulf of Maine is estimated to be around 250 million. However, it’s difficult to estimate the total number of spiny lobsters and other tropical lobster species.
One reason for this uncertainty is the fact that lobsters live in a variety of habitats, from rocky areas to mud bottoms, and can migrate extensively. Offshore lobsters, for example, can migrate up to 190 miles during the spring.
Another factor that affects lobster populations is the habitat conditions. Scientists, managers, and fishermen are concerned about the habitat conditions for American lobster in inshore Southern New England waters, particularly in Long Island Sound. Warmer water temperatures, hypoxia (low dissolved oxygen levels), and other stress factors have resulted in lobster die-offs in western Long Island Sound in late 1999 and in 2002. If these conditions continue, future die-offs are possible.
Furthermore, the Gulf of Maine, home to 250 million lobsters, is warming faster than 99.9 percent of the world’s oceans. While initially creating ideal conditions for lobsters to multiply, continued warming could disrupt their settlement of larvae in traditional coastal areas.
The Current State Of American Lobster Populations
The American lobster fishery is a valuable industry along the Atlantic coast. In 2021, coastwide commercial landings were approximately 134 million pounds, with an ex-vessel value of nearly $875 million, the highest value on record for the American lobster fishery. The vast majority of these landings came from the Gulf of Maine/Gulf of Bay of Fundy, where the stock is at record high abundance. However, there has been an overall decrease in the percentage of landings from the Southern New England stock, which is depleted and experiencing recruitment failure.
While southern New England lobstermen have found increasingly empty traps since the mid-90s, Maine’s lobster fishery has boomed. From 1994 to 2014, Maine’s landings surged 219% to more than 124 million pounds. Historically a lucrative catch for Island fishermen, lobster stocks in southern New England peaked around 1997, with abundance estimated at approximately 47 million exploitable lobsters in the region and lobstermen pulling in about 22 million pounds in annual catch, accounting for about one quarter of the country’s lobster industry. But by 2000, populations in southern New England had begun to decline, with overall abundance in 2003 estimated around 20 million exploitable lobsters, less than half its levels only six years earlier. Two decades later, the number has continued to steadily decline, with the recent stock assessment estimating current abundance at six million lobsters.
The American lobster population in southern Gulf of St. Lawrence has long been subjected to high exploitation, and yet its population is currently at a high and increasing abundance level. The lobster fishery management is based on effort-control, with a short season, mandatory release of egg-bearing females, and strict enforcement of regulations. Another important factor is the high survival of lobster returned to the water. The combination of a minimum legal size limit and either an upper size limit for females or an effective size limit due to entrance-ring size on the traps has resulted in a slot fishery after which the larger, most fecund animals have low vulnerability to the fishery. These efforts to protect large individuals have had a positive effect on lobster larval production, which may lead to even higher adult population numbers.
Uncertainty Surrounding Spiny Lobster And Other Tropical Lobster Species
Unlike American lobsters, the total population of spiny lobsters and other tropical lobster species is difficult to estimate due to a number of factors. For instance, spiny lobsters live in a variety of habitats such as coral reefs, sponge flats, and other hard-bottomed areas. They are also known to migrate extensively, with offshore lobsters capable of migrating up to 190 miles during the spring. This makes it difficult to track their numbers accurately.
Moreover, there is also uncertainty surrounding the age and lifespan of spiny lobsters. While they may live up to 15 years or more, there is still uncertainty regarding this estimate due to the difficulty in aging this species. Spiny lobsters grow by molting, and they molt about 25 times in their first 5 to 7 years of life, and once per year when they’re older. It takes them about 2 years to grow to the 3-inch carapace (shell) legal-harvesting size.
Climate change is also a significant factor affecting different lobster species. As noted in several papers presented at the 10th International Conference and Workshop on Lobster Biology and Management held in Cancún, Mexico in May 2014, climate change is already altering growth rates, sizes at maturity, the timing of reproductive processes, duration of larval development, and the timing and levels of settlement for different lobster species. This makes it even more difficult to estimate their populations accurately.
In addition, spiny lobsters are preyed upon by a variety of predators such as groupers, snappers, sharks, skates, turtles, and octopuses. This can impact their populations significantly if predator numbers increase or if their habitats are destroyed.
Factors Affecting Lobster Populations
There are several factors that affect lobster populations, including environmental conditions, diseases, habitat conditions, and fishing practices.
One of the primary factors affecting lobster populations is the environment. Lobsters are sensitive to changes in water temperature, and sustained above-average temperatures can stress their immune systems and make them more susceptible to diseases. For example, in Long Island Sound, a new disease called paramoebiasis was identified in lobsters in 1999. The parasite responsible for this disease invades and engulfs nervous tissue, causing death. Pathologists identified the parasite in 94% of lobsters they tested from the Sound, and scientists believe that weakened immune systems resulting from prolonged above-average temperatures made the lobsters more susceptible to the disease.
Another environmental factor that affects lobster populations is habitat conditions. Lobsters live in a variety of habitats and can migrate extensively. Offshore lobsters, for example, can migrate up to 190 miles during the spring. Changes in water temperature, hypoxia (low dissolved oxygen levels), and other stress factors can result in lobster die-offs. In Long Island Sound, for example, warmer water temperatures have resulted in lobster die-offs in the past.
Fishing practices also play a role in lobster populations. Overfishing can deplete lobster populations, particularly if large individuals are targeted. In some areas, such as the Gulf of St. Lawrence, fishing regulations have been put in place to protect large individuals and ensure that they can reproduce and contribute to future generations.
In addition to these factors, diseases and parasites can also impact lobster populations. For example, the paramoebiasis parasite that was identified in Long Island Sound has had a significant impact on the lobster population there. Other diseases and parasites can also affect lobsters, particularly if they are weakened by environmental stressors like high water temperatures.
Efforts To Ensure Lobster Survival: Conservation And Sustainable Fishing Practices
Maine’s lobster industry is the largest commercial fishery in the United States, and it has been practicing sustainable fishing and conservation measures for over 150 years. The state’s progressive conservation laws and regulations ensure that the lobster population remains sustainable. One of the key measures is limiting the number of lobster fishing licenses issued to small operations, with only 5,763 legally licensed lobstermen and women along Maine’s nearly 3,500 miles of tidal coast in 2021. Corporate fleets of lobster boats are not allowed.
Marine law also requires lobsters to be checked for size, with anything smaller than 31/4” or larger than 5” being thrown back. This legal size limit allows younger lobsters to grow and mature, while protecting the older, oversized lobsters for life to allow them to reproduce. If egg-bearing females are trapped, their tails are clipped to mark and protect the breeding population before returning them to the ocean.
Another measure of protection relates to lobster traps, which are designed to hold only in-range lobsters. Escape events are built into the traps to let all but the legal-size lobsters escape. Finally, wholesale markets are routinely monitored to ensure compliance with the law. Strictly enforced, any wholesalers caught marketing out-of-range lobsters are subject to heavy fines and can even be shut down.
Maine’s lobster industry recognizes the precarious situation of the North Atlantic right whale, and since the 1990s fishermen have been taking proactive steps to ensure the fishery and the whales can co-exist. Fishermen are willing to make changes to protect whales and have been active participants in ongoing discussions.
In addition to these measures, Maine’s lobster industry treats the entire marine environment with respect and care. The industry understands that sustainability means protecting not only the health of the lobster stock but also the entire marine environment.
The Future Of Lobster Populations: Challenges And Opportunities.
The future of lobster populations is uncertain, as warming waters and other environmental factors pose challenges to their survival. As mentioned earlier, the Gulf of Maine lobster fishery is vulnerable to temperature increases, which could lead to a decrease in lobster productivity. Additionally, the habitat conditions for American lobsters in inshore Southern New England waters are a concern, as warmer water temperatures and low dissolved oxygen levels could result in future die-offs.
However, there are also opportunities for conservation efforts to mitigate the impacts of these challenges. Continued conservation practices can help maintain lobster populations and ensure their sustainability for future generations. Researchers project that if conservation practices continue, the 30-year outlook for the Gulf of Maine fishery looks positive, with average populations similar to those in the early 2000s.
Furthermore, scientists are studying the impact of warming waters on lobsters and their habitats, which could inform future management decisions. Understanding how lobsters are affected by environmental changes can help managers develop strategies to protect them and ensure their long-term survival.