Lobsters Are Disappearing

January 10, 2000

Lobsters are disappearing from the once bountiful Long Island Sound that runs between Long Island, NY, and the mainland coast of Connecticut and New York, causing a great fear among fisherman and consumers alike that the future bodes ill for this popular delicacy. Nobody knows why they are disappearing although a combination of warming waters and environmental stresses are suspected. This is already having a huge impact on the New York - Connecticut lobster industry, particularly the fishermen whose businesses are off as much as 70 percent because of the weak lobster crop. Disaster relief requests from New York and Connecticut are already being considered by the US Commerce Department.

Restaurants need not worry, however. Canada, Maine and Massachusetts are the major suppliers and they continue to produce millions of pounds of lobster annually. In 1998 alone, Massachusetts and Maine provided nearly 60 million pounds of lobster for human consumption.