Another Decline: Lobsters

lobster1958.jpg In the 1960s, Godfrey Merlen, a longtime resident of Galapagos, remembers hoards of spiny lobster antennae that resembled "bouquets of underwater flowers". Today, lobsters are a rare sight to divers. There are still a few refuges because the conditions are so rough that fishermen cannot frequent the sites. But, on calm days, these lobster homes are hit hard and the populations continues to the decline. According to Fernando Ortiz at Conservation International, the catch-per-unit-effort for lobsters in Galapagos has hit a record low. Almost all spiny lobsters caught in Galapagos are exported to the global market (think Red Lobster).

Photo of lobster fishermen from 1958 published in H. Idrovo's Galapagos: Huellas en el Paraiso

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It's amazing to me that the lobster population has declined so rapidly. I mean 1960 is only 47 years ago thats a relatively short time for a whole population to be nearly wiped out. I wasnt aware that things were this bad for lobsters, I knew that fish were being overharvested but I had no idea about the lobster. Just wondering is there anything I can do to help with the problem besides not purchasing lobster and other over fished marine life

By Ashley Johnson (not verified) on 16 May 2007 #permalink

Lobsters are now a global commodity and wealthy nations are willing to pay top dollar for them. Like many luxury goods, their status (and price) can actually increase with scarcity. Therefore, it is not enough to not eat lobsters (though this is a great start) but we must also become actively engaged as citizens that support managing collective public goods (i.e., fisheries) COLLECTIVELY. Right now we have a government that caters almost entirely to producers' needs. With strong voices and actions, we need to remind the government that consumers and the environment are still worthy causes.

I think people differ greatly on this issue. For example, if it were completely unidentifiable as my own, I would have no problem with a picture of my naked ass being posted on the Internet. Others would be absolutely horrified by the prospect.