The AVC Lobster Science Centre is currently looking for lobsters with shell disease. Shell disease can be a disease of spectacular appearance in lobsters, depending on its form. Impoundment, burnt/rust spot and epidemic shell disease each have characteristic lesions. Significantly, none of the forms of shell disease is readily transmissible from one lobster to another: apparently shell disease is not an infectious disease.

Epidemic shell disease may be a newly emerging disease associated with global climate change. In New England, the prevalence of epidemic shell disease increases southwards along the coast of Massachusetts. The time-of-year, sex and size of the lobster influence the occurrence of epidemic shell disease. Occurrence is highest in May-June, prior to the major molt, and lowest in August when lobsters have new, clean shells. This form of disease is more common and severe in large, berried female lobsters, continuing at high (>50%) prevalence in berried females in eastern Long Island Sound. However, this aggressive form of shell disease is currently found in the Atlantic Provinces only at very low levels, with less then 1 lobster in every several thousands having lesions.