|
Lobsters are found all around the Scottish coast utilising rocky areas with reefs, boulders and large stones to provide cover. Most occur at depths of less than 60m although some occur deeper. Lobsters are crustaceans which have a hard shell and grow by casting (moulting) this shell, increasing in size and then hardening a new shell – the increase may be between 12 and 15%.While immature, animals may moult a number of times a year, and grow quickly, but once mature, moulting is often only every one or two years, and growth is slower. Growth varies markedly between areas as does the size at first maturity but the latter is typically 80 – 90 mm carapace length. Mating occurs while the female is soft (prior to the new shell hardening). After spawning in late summer or autumn, the eggs (ten thousand to fifteen thousand) are attached to the underside of the tail and carried by the female until hatching which normally takes place in spring and early summer. Larvae are distributed by water movements before settling to the seabed as miniature adults in summer or autumn. Lobsters are thought to rarely undertake significant movements greater than a few hundred metres but are active when foraging outside their shelters. Seasonal patterns in activity reflect different feeding requirements and during colder winter months baited creels take fewer lobsters. In addition berried female lobsters have a much reduced feeding rate and also show lower catchability.
|
Responsible sourcing 
