Habitat
Where do Lobsters Live?
Lobsters are benthic, living on the bottom of the ocean. They prefer temperatures from 15-18°C (59-64°F) and salinities of 20-25 ppt.
The American lobster can be found on the east coast of North America, from Newfoundland to North Carolina. Small lobsters (less than 1.5″ carapace length) are very cryptic, hiding in and about sea weeds and rocky habitat that provide adequate food and shelter from predators. Adolescent lobsters (1.5″ – 3.5″ carapace length) dominate coastal habitats and offshore areas. They generally exhibit minimal migratory behavior. Larger, more mobile, adult lobsters may inhabit deeper waters but return seasonally to shallow, warmer waters.
Photo: Bangor Daily News
Where are Lobsters Caught?
Commercial lobster fisheries are found in the North Atlantic from the Long Island Sound areas of New York & Connecticut up to Newfoundland. About 57% of North American lobster landings are in Canada and 43% in the U.S. (2018) Maine lands approximately 80% of the U.S. catch, followed by Massachusetts at 18%.