Lobster Fact Sheet
Tasty Planet – Lobster Fact Sheet (courtesy of Wikipedia)
Global industry that nets $1.8 billion in trade annually
Lobsters are invertebrates, and have a tough exoskeleton
Lobsters must molt in order to grow, leaving them vulnerable during this time
Lobsters live on rocky, sandy, or muddy bottoms from the shoreline to beyond the edge of the continental shelf. They generally live singly in crevices or in burrows under rocks.
They primarily feed on live fish, dig for clams, sea urchins, and feed on algae and eel-grass. They occasionally eat other lobsters, too.
Lobsters move slowly by walking on the bottom of the seafloor. However, when they are in danger and need to flee, they swim backwards quickly by curling and uncurling their abdomen. A speed of 5 meters per second has been recorded.
Most lobster comes from the north-eastern coast of North America with the Canadian Maritimes and the U.S. state of Maine being the largest producers.
Lobster traps are devices made of shrimp mesh and wire (wooden traps, now largely obsolete, were originally used). They are baited and lowered to the sea floor. They allow a lobster to enter, but make it impossible for the larger specimens to turn around and exit. This allows the creatures to be captured alive.
The traps, sometimes referred to as "pots", have a buoy floating on the surface and lobster fishermen check their traps daily.
In North America prior to the 20th century, eating lobster was considered a mark of poverty.
Some consider boiling lobsters cruel, and suggest that more humane ways of killing them include inserting a knife into the back of their head and slicing downward, or freezing them for 15 minutes to 2 hours before boiling. Freezing may make the meat tough, however.
A Norwegian study released in February of 2005 suggested that lobsters may not be able to feel pain, but should be given the benefit of the doubt, while a Scottish study released that same year concluded that lobsters probably do feel pain.
Global industry that nets $1.8 billion in trade annually
Lobsters are invertebrates, and have a tough exoskeleton
Lobsters must molt in order to grow, leaving them vulnerable during this time
Lobsters live on rocky, sandy, or muddy bottoms from the shoreline to beyond the edge of the continental shelf. They generally live singly in crevices or in burrows under rocks.
They primarily feed on live fish, dig for clams, sea urchins, and feed on algae and eel-grass. They occasionally eat other lobsters, too.
Lobsters move slowly by walking on the bottom of the seafloor. However, when they are in danger and need to flee, they swim backwards quickly by curling and uncurling their abdomen. A speed of 5 meters per second has been recorded.
Most lobster comes from the north-eastern coast of North America with the Canadian Maritimes and the U.S. state of Maine being the largest producers.
Lobster traps are devices made of shrimp mesh and wire (wooden traps, now largely obsolete, were originally used). They are baited and lowered to the sea floor. They allow a lobster to enter, but make it impossible for the larger specimens to turn around and exit. This allows the creatures to be captured alive.
The traps, sometimes referred to as "pots", have a buoy floating on the surface and lobster fishermen check their traps daily.
In North America prior to the 20th century, eating lobster was considered a mark of poverty.
Some consider boiling lobsters cruel, and suggest that more humane ways of killing them include inserting a knife into the back of their head and slicing downward, or freezing them for 15 minutes to 2 hours before boiling. Freezing may make the meat tough, however.
A Norwegian study released in February of 2005 suggested that lobsters may not be able to feel pain, but should be given the benefit of the doubt, while a Scottish study released that same year concluded that lobsters probably do feel pain.
posted by Lili at 3:03 PM
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