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European lobster ( Homarus gammarus ) Pictures and text by Rudolf Svensen
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Commen Lobster |
Commen Lobster |
European lobster is found as far north as Tysfjorden
in Lofoten in Norwegian waters. A couple of hundred years ago, the
lobster was “poor mans meal”. On the Kvitsøy Island not far from
Stavanger, a couple of kids could catch 200 lobsters on an afternoon.
They used a long stick with a clamp in the end to catch the crustacea.
Today is the Norwegian lobster stock threatened by extermination.
Mostly because of over fishing, but also due to bad attitude among
fishermen and divers.
The lobster eats whatever it may find on the seabed. It hunts for
crabs, mussels, shells and jellyfishes. It also takes carcass from
fish and other animals and whatever it may find on its search for food.
The lobsters mate when the female changes her shell. The eggs are then
moved from the head of the female lobster down under her tail.
When the young lobsters hatch, they drift around pelagic for two to
three weeks. Then they settle on the bottom to spend the rest of their
lives there.
Lobsters are very aggressive cannibals, and scientists believe that
only one of 10 000 new borne lobsters reach the age of three weeks!
Most of the kids end up as food for their more lucky brothers and
sisters or other marine predators.
On the Kvitsøy island is the only lobster hatchery in Norway, and
research is done to try to get the lobster into commercial lobster
farms. |
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