American Lobster

Western Atlantic: Atlantic coast of North America between Newfoundland (Canada) and North Carolina (USA).

Maximum total body length 64 cm, usually around 25 cm or less. This probably is, with Jasus verreauxi, the largest known Decapod species as far as body length is concerned.

Sublitoral to 480 m depth, most common between 4 and 50 m.Hard bottom (hard mud, rocks). As the females carry their eggs for 10 to 11 months, ovigerous females are found throughout the year. Migration does not occur, or only on a limited scale.

The species is the subject of one of the most important Crustacea fisheries in the northwest Atlantic. According to FAO statistics, the catches in 1987 and 1988 amounted to 60 096 t and 62 457 t, respectively. The animals are mostly caught with traps, but in recent years trawling proved to be commercially feasible, especially in the southern part of the range of the species. These lobsters are sold fresh or frozen. The meat is also canned.The total catch reported for this species to FAO for 1999 was 82 764 t. The countries with the largest catches were Canada (43 087 t) and USA (39 676 t).