Bands on Lobster Claws

[adam james]

Speaking from examining several thousand dungeness crab, the skeleton starts pretty hollow and fills in. When the storms were slamming us, the water pretty warm, we were pulling 3 crab per pound. Calm cold water a few weeks later the same size crab was four to six for 10 pounds.

My father is a lobster fisherman here on the atlantic coast of North America. My job for many years growing up was banding lobsters when they are first caught on the boat. I will say that when molting, and deeper water lobsters (over 100ft) were usually softer shelled, and softer shelled lobsters always had much less meat in them. The stuff that was always best for consumption was caught near the shore, in warmer water. This may be due to time of year (end of fall). The amount of meat usually was linked to how hard the shell was. I do not have any information on how banding affects muscle development though, only to say that i have been nailed by a 4lb lobster after the bands were removed and it still hurt like crazy LOL.

 

[cold blood]

Since this thread was recently added to this newly created aquatic invertebrate forum I might as well weigh in on it with an update.

Since this thread was posted I have learned that they can indeed re-acquire the use of their chela. However, it typically requires a molt or two to regain full use.

See Leon the Lobster on YouTube for video documentation of this.

The Leon saga was not only interesting, but highly informative.

It did take Leon a long time to re gain use of his claws that were banded.....it changed my views, and I now consider this banding to basically amount to cruelty. It also showed just how long many of them are captive before being bought at the store, as Leon was basically in the late stages of starvation.....explains why freshly caught lobsters are so much better for the table.

 

[darkness975]

The Leon saga was not only interesting, but highly informative.

It did take Leon a long time to re gain use of his claws that were banded.....it changed my views, and I now consider this banding to basically amount to cruelty. It also showed just how long many of them are captive before being bought at the store, as Leon was basically in the late stages of starvation.....explains why freshly caught lobsters are so much better for the table.

I love lobster. It is one of my favorite foods. I wish there was a better way to harvest without the banding. Also, they should feed them even if in the store. That way they are not only not being tortured and starved but also I am sure they would taste better.

I don't know why they don't feed them. Probably some stupid reason like not wanting to clean the tank or pay for the feed.

 

[cold blood]

I love lobster. It is one of my favorite foods. I wish there was a better way to harvest without the banding. Also, they should feed them even if in the store. That way they are not only not being tortured and starved but also I am sure they would taste better.

I don't know why they don't feed them. Probably some stupid reason like not wanting to clean the tank or pay for the feed.

The thing is, any store selling them would undoubtedly be throwing away fish and meat scraps at some point, so it's not like there would be costs incurred.....more likely they don't want to have to clean the tanks often.....which they should be if they are charging what they charge for us to eat from them.

 

[darkness975]

The thing is, any store selling them would undoubtedly be throwing away fish and meat scraps at some point, so it's not like there would be costs incurred.....more likely they don't want to have to clean the tanks often.....which they should be if they are charging what they charge for us to eat from them.

Exactly. Even ignoring the animal welfare aspect of it the food would taste far better if they were not starving.

 

[adam james]

The Leon saga was not only interesting, but highly informative.

It did take Leon a long time to re gain use of his claws that were banded.....it changed my views, and I now consider this banding to basically amount to cruelty. It also showed just how long many of them are captive before being bought at the store, as Leon was basically in the late stages of starvation.....explains why freshly caught lobsters are so much better for the table.

I love lobster. It is one of my favorite foods. I wish there was a better way to harvest without the banding. Also, they should feed them even if in the store. That way they are not only not being tortured and starved but also I am sure they would taste better.

I don't know why they don't feed them. Probably some stupid reason like not wanting to clean the tank or pay for the feed.

I love lobster as well. I always felt bad for them though, seeing that many (100+) in a crate getting carted off the boat. However where I am from (East Coast, Canada) it is regulated fairly well to maintain sustainability.

The banding from the fisherman's point of view is mostly to reduce losses, as when they are first caught and taken out of water they are understandably irritated and aggressive. combine that with stacking them on one another in a crate and it really becomes a bad situation for all involved if they are not banded. you would likely end up with 3/4 of the catch dead once they were done vice-gripping each other to death. A 3lb lobster can kill a standard sized 1lb lobster by cutting it in half with one pinch.

 

[TheraMygale]

I love lobster. It is one of my favorite foods. I wish there was a better way to harvest without the banding. Also, they should feed them even if in the store. That way they are not only not being tortured and starved but also I am sure they would taste better.

I don't know why they don't feed them. Probably some stupid reason like not wanting to clean the tank or pay for the feed.

if you feed a lobster, it gets full of poop.

i remember getting crawfish. I had to do this thing where i “flush” out the poop.

i doubt they get fed too though. It was a rare occurence aswell. People arent into that sort of thing here. Its not local anyways.

i love lobster.

i think there is a way to rethink their care.

its just like chickens in the end though… they get their beaks cut off and the male chicks get thrown in the garbage.

its a song that never leaves me. Its the official video too. I mean at 2:26… 🫥

lobsters wont get better treatement then chicks.

its ironic how a food that used to be peasant food, is now only affordable by the rich.

if they had a preorder system, then perhaps they wouldnt need to band them. But im sure its more complicated then it looks.

if it was just a risk to humans, then it should be abolished.

I wish there was a better way to keep lobsters until they are eaten. Im sure anyone doing their own fishing, have better opportunities to offee good husbandry.

English translate of lyrics, still so a propos today..

Take a look at the survivors
They have tears deep in their teeth
They would like to change highways
But that's not how you do it
Don't trust anyone anymore
It's the motto of the castaways
There's always some idiot honking
So that we continue to move forward


Sebolavy when you think about it
A little less when you spend it
Getting angry all day
We end up forgetting everything
Let's no longer be afraid of the essential
Let's remember to be faithful
To those who show us the sky
To steal our souls


Look a little towards the horizon
This is the new generation
Who has not experienced oppression
But raise your arm for the nation
Take a look at the faces of the dead
It looks like grandpa falling asleep
After the next elections
You might have to escape by plane.


And if you take me to Tokyo
I will definitely take some photos
But if you take me to Pyongyang
I'm afraid I'll swallow my tongue
If you take me to Hollywood
I will moonwalk in the crowd
But if you take me to Cuba
I will go and dance the cha cha cha


cha cha cha


Sebolavy when you think about it
A little less when you spend it
Getting angry all day
We end up forgetting everything

Let's no longer be afraid of the essential
Let's remember to be faithful
To those who show us the sky
To steal our souls

And if you take me to Tokyo
I will definitely take some photos
But if you take me to Pyongyang
I'm afraid I'll swallow my tongue
If you take me to Hollywood
I will moonwalk in the crowd
But if you take me to Cuba
I will go and dance the cha cha cha

cha cha cha

sebolavy means life is beautiful, badly spelt.

 

[Kada]

The thing is, any store selling them would undoubtedly be throwing away fish and meat scraps at some point, so it's not like there would be costs incurred.....more likely they don't want to have to clean the tanks often.....which they should be if they are charging what they charge for us to eat from them.

I'm not in the seafood industry, but am in the AG industry. As cruel as it sounds, my bet is there are hygienic reasons and regulations via FDA (or related government bodies) that would make problems for this. As most mass produced/caged animal foods, it is far better to just kill them quick and store their carcasses well. The clams here are in sealed bags, in refrigerators. Live. The cruelty levels we place on species we eat is nothing short of psychopathic. Makes the pet industry look like heaven. All in the name of seconds, possibly minutes, worth of mouth feel. Definition of insanity and selfishness.