Human activities can have a significant and adverse impact on live lobsters and their environment. An unlikely ally in the lobster conservation effort is the astronomical price of oil. With the price of lobster low and the price of bait fish and the cost of fuel high, many fishermen are either checking their traps less frequently or getting out of the business altogether.
Fuel costs, coupled with low lobster prices and high bait fish prices have driven lobster fishermen to either cut back on trips out to check their traps, or in some cases, to get out of the business completely. Live lobster numbers are growing as trapping slows down.
live Maine lobsters
For many years, conservationists have lobbied for regulating international waters. Non-enforceable pacts have prevented this from happening. What has had more impact than any kind of regulation is the high price of fuel.
It becomes too costly to fish great distances from port, so, fishing vessels don’t go out as far. While there are still trawlers who continue fishing in much of the deep ocean, far from land, their numbers have significantly decreased.
The fresh seafood industry, in addition to all the continuing annual worries that accompany each new season of fishing, is worried that the 35 percent increase in fuel prices during the past six months is squeezing every lobster fishermen’s income.
They are actually absorbing fuel costs twice; once for their own boats and again for those of the bait fishermen. This impact has forced some of the fishermen of Maine lobsters to stop working and to take jobs outside of the industry. It has also discouraged young people from going into the business.
fish and seafood
Fishermen have been receiving $4-$4.50 per pound for live lobsters with bait prices reaching record levels. The lobster trap that was once checked and reset with fresh bait daily is now being left for two days to save on fuel.
This is happy news for conservationists who recognize the ocean’s bounty is in jeopardy.
Less demand for fresh seafood and live lobsters coupled with increased oil prices could discourage the consumption of these food sources for the long term. Conservationists are hopeful that this will be the case. Balancing lobster fishermen’s loss of livelihood with conservation measures is a very difficult task to achieve in these times of economic hardship.
rock lobster
One thing is true; the fishing industry will be feeling the effects of high fuel prices for many years to come. [spin]Given enough time, the world’s sea life populations may have a chance to grow and thrive. |It is a precarious balance for consumers and industry to try to maintain the livelihood of lobster fishermen and also conserve and sustain crustacean and fish populations in this time of economic unease. |In that time, maybe sea creatures will have a chance to grow and thrive once more.
