What is going on in the lobster life cycle?

In preparation for moulting, muscle mass (meat content) decreases to allow the animal to extract itself from its old shell.  After the moult, the new soft shell must be re-mineralised and the lost muscle tissue regenerated.  At this point, the lobster has ‘recovered’ from the moult and will be a top quality product for harvesting and later resale as live or processed product.  The moult cycle, including the time required to recover from the moult itself, is influenced by ambient temperatures, nutritional status, reproductive status in females, and other environmental factors.  The health status of the animal is another potential factor affecting the moult cycle.  Were the problems occurring in SW NS to extend to the remaining lobster fishing areas (LFAs), the results could be devastating.  It is suspected that a similar problem may be contributing to the huge reductions seen in premium landings in the Northumberland Straight.  Investigation into the cause(s) of this phenomenon and strategies to mitigate its effects is essential to the long-term sustainability of the entire industry.

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