Wednesday and Thursday

We first met with Jim who knew everything there was to know about lobster. Jim allowed us to go on his boat as we were shown what a lobsterman does day in and day out. Jim owned his own company and holding room where they count and ship lobsters from. The tank in this holding room could provide the lobster with a perfect environment, even better than in the ocean. The lobster was separated by pound and value.

On Thursday we went to the wet lab. In the wet lab we were able to see lobsters that were born with different disorders. Most were unique shell pigments but for some three claws and shell disease. We learned that after a lobster molts, it's shell can look totally different when it grows back. Here we see a rare blue lobster which is said to be seen by lobsterman only once a year.

Lobsters Economically

How much money do lobstermen make per year?

How much lobster lobstermen catch per year determines how much their salary is. Some days are better than others, but as going out daily on a boat in the middle of the ocean is exhausting work, it is always a disappointment when only a couple lobsters per trap are dragged in. The average lobster fishing salary, is $48,000. Factors that vary this number are company, location, industry, and benefits. 

http://www.simplyhired.com/a/salary/search/q-lobster+fishing

How much does a lobster cost?

Lobster is a type of seafood that is very desirable and not relatively cheap. However, it is extremely tasty, healthy, and can be used in a variety of dishes such as soups, gumbos, salads, bisques, and pasta. Lobsters are most commonly purchased from grocery stores, seafood markets, or at restaurants. The price of a lobster is based on its size and type. On average in a grocery store a lobster is between $12 to $18 per pound. If a lobster is bought at a restaurant as a main dish, it is usually double the price as it has been delivered to the restaurant and then prepared for you.

http://www.howmuchisit.org/how-much-does-a-lobster-cost/

How much lobster does Maine catch per year and how much money does it bring to the state?

In 2012, Maine caught 105 million pounds of lobster. Maine is the country’s largest producer of lobsters, catching 75-85% of clawed lobsters that are caught in the United states. Last year, the lobster industry of Maine brought $330 million dollars into the state, but the total economic impact on the state of Maine is $1.7 billion. The reason for this, is because every dollar paid for a lobster to a lobsterman is $3 to $5 in businesses such as dealers, processors, restaurants, stores, and bait suppliers. 

http://www.pressherald.com/news/market-forces-make-everyone-feel-the-pinch_2012-08-12.html

How does lobstering economically impact the United States?

Lobster economically impacts the United states in a positive way. In 1999 the United states caught 87,420,414 pounds of lobster which brought in $322,754,058. The U.S exported $315,889,000 in 2003. Each year more and more people become involved with catching and selling lobster. Over 25,000 lobster licenses are issued every single year. Since American lobster is ranked third on the seafood export list for the U.S, we make a lot of profit from it because there is such a high demand. Maine is responsible for 61% of landings followed by Massachusetts (18%), Rhode Island (7%), Connecticut (3%), New Hampshire (1%), and others (9%). 

http://www.lobster.um.maine.edu/media/economic%20brochure.pdf

 

Lobstering and Economics

What is lobstering’s economic impact on the United States?

Each year, the United States issues over 25,000 lobster licenses.  American lobster is ranked as the third U.S. fresh/frozen fishery product on the seafood export list.  In 2003, these lobster exports were worth $315,889,000.  In 1999, the largest lobster landings on record was at 87,420,414 pounds, valued at $322,754,058.  By state, Maine is responsible for the largest amount of U.S. landings, contributing to 61%.  Following, Massachusetts is responsible for 18%, Rhode Island for 7%, Connecticut for 3%, New Hampshire for 1%, and all other states combined are responsible for 9%.  In total, the lobster industry has an impact of $.7-1.2 billion on the United Stated economy.  However, coupled with it’s $1.7-2.8 billion impact on Canada’s economy, it has a total impact of $2.4-4.0 billion.  

Source: http://www.lobster.um.maine.edu/media/economic%20brochure.pdf

What type of economic impact does lobstering have industry-wide? 

Annually in the United States and Canada, they have landed about 183,000,000 lobsters.  62% of the landings were contributed by Canada, while 38% by the United States.  It is estimated that for every dollar a lobsterman is paid for a single lobster, about $3-$5 is generated for ancillary businesses.  Of all the catches, only 25% goes to live market, and the other 75% is processed.  Within the 75% of processed catches, Canada controls over 90% of the processed market.  

Source: http://www.lobster.um.maine.edu/media/economic%20brochure.pdf

How does the lobstering industry economically contrast between Maine and Massachusetts? 

Maine’s lobster industry has an estimated $500,000,000 impact on the state economy.  In contrast, Massachusetts has an estimated $246,000,000 impact.  While Maine has a total of 144 lobstering ports in Maine, Massachusetts homes only 52.  This can be accounted for by the difference in the financial impact the industry has on each state.  

Source: http://www.lobster.um.maine.edu/media/economic%20brochure.pdf

How much do lobstermen make each year? 

On average, lobstermen make a salary of about $48,000 per year.  However, these salaries can significantly vary as a result of company, industry, location, experience, and benefits.  When entering the industry, lobsterman must take into account the dangers and risk that this job entails, which has an additional impact on salary depending on whether or not the location is more dangerous than others.  

Source: http://www.simplyhired.com/a/salary/search/q-lobster+fishing

Lobster in economy

How much does live lobster cost?

Live lobster typically costs on average $12-$18. It costs more if it is more fresh. The less fresh it is the cheaper it is.

How does lobstering effect the economy?

The lobstering industry has a large impact on the economy. The largest supplier brings in about 2.4-4 billion dollars per year.

How much do lobsterman in Massachusetts make a year?

Lobsterman in Massachusetts makes about 49,254,000. That number is a gross income.

How many lobster traps are in Massachusetts?

In 2002 there were 506,000 traps fished by Massachusetts lobsterman.

Lobstering and the economy

How much do lobstermen make?

Lobstering in Maine lately has been booming. Last year Maine lobstermen caught 100 million pounds of lobster, worth over 330 million. That number is split up between the thousands of lobstermen in Maine. The lobstermen receives a little over 3$ a pound for a lobster, which isn't bad but a few years ago they were receiving 4 or 5$ a pound. Successful, experienced lobstermen can make 60,000$ to over 80,000$ a year.

How much does lobster cost?

Lobster, depending on the season and how many lobsters are being caught is sold from 7$-15$ a pound. This price seems high but people traveling to New England are more then willing to pay that price. If you go to a restaurant the price will be even higher. It would over 20$ for a lobster a little over 1 pound, and even more expensive at a high end restaurant. People are still willing to pay that price because you can't get lobster like that everywhere. 

How much does it cost to go lobstering?

Lobstermen have a lot of expenses they have to pay before being able to receive a profit for there lobster. The lobster pots they use to catch lobsters cost about 50$ and they use hundreds of pots. Plus lobstermen say it cost them about 400$ a day just to untie there boat.

Where are the lobsters sold?

In Maine there are thousands of lobstermen going fishing everyday. Most of them work for a specific market where they bring all of their catch back to and sell it. These lobstermen usually own the market or are high in the ranks of the market. Other lobstermen sell there catch to seas food restaurants or groceries stores through the country, but most New Engand and the east coast.

Lobster in the economy

How much does it cost a day for a lobsterman to go out?
On average it cost about $400 a day for a lobster boat to go out. This is with just fuel, bait, and a deck hand. This is roughly $2000 a week. Lobsterman say that the price of fuel, bait, and equipment are going up, but the only thing not going up is the price of lobster. Over the past ten years lobster has only gone up 20 cents.

What is the annual salary of a lobsterman?
Lobsterman catch about 1000 pounds a day. Before all the expenses that's worth anywhere from $130,000 - $200,000 a year in sales. $25,000 -$45,000 for an average annual salary.



Mass.

Estimated state economic impact = $246,000,000
Gross income for lobstermen is approximately
$49,254,000
Lobster fishery is Massachusetts’ most valuable state waters single species marine resource and fishery.
1531 licensed commercial harvesters and 8,000 recreational lobster permits for trapping and 4,000 recreational licenses for divers
52 lobstering ports in Massachusetts
506,000 traps fished by Massachusetts lobstermen in 2002

http://www.lobster.um.maine.edu/media/economic%20brochure.pdf



UNITED STATES
1999—Largest U. S. lobster landings on record at 87,420,414 pounds, valued at $322,754,058
U.S. Exports = $315,889,000 in 2003
There are over 25,000 lobster licenses issued in the
U.S. each year
American lobster is ranked third on the seafood export list for U.S. fresh/frozen fishery products (behind #1 surimi and #2 salmon)


http://www.lobster.um.maine.edu/media/economic%20brochure.pdf

Global warming

How does global warming affect the population of lobsters?

The temperature and chemical composition of the water has a large affect on lobsters. Although warmer water increases lobster population, it could disrupt the larval lobsters food source witch would lead to a decrease in population. When the water is warmer, it could also lead to lobsters getting diseases.

How does global warming affect lobsters diet?

Carbon dioxide negativity affects lobster because it negativity affects smaller organisms like mussels and shrimp that lobsters eat. Therefore, it not only weakens the things lobsters eat, but also weaken lobster. This makes lobster more vulnerable in the ocean, smaller, and not as tasty.

How has global warming affected lobster migration?

Due to warmer weather, it has forced lobsters to migrate to colder waters. Between Long Island and Buzzards Bay, the population of lobster has dropped, and has grown in the gulf of Maine.