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Spiny lobster

Quality mark Cultivation
/Keurmerk Wild
Green
Second choice
Avoid
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General

Lobsters and crayfish

Lobsters live in saltwater whilst crayfish live in freshwater habitats. Lobsters and crayfish are most often caught using pots or traps. Most lobsters are equipped with ten legs and two scissors as front legs. With these scissors, they are able to grab, cut or crack their food. Did you know lobsters and crayfish, just lie snakes, change their skin because their shell does not grow with their bodies? After changing their shell the animal grows fast and increases in weight.

There are many different lobster species. Most common are the American lobster in the north-western Atlantic ocean, and the European lobster in the north-eastern Atlantic ocean. Lobsters have a relatively slow growth rate and reach sexual maturity at a late age. Another frequently consumed lobster is the Norway lobster. This species is way smaller than the American and European lobster. This species occurs in the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean and parts of the Mediterranean sea.

 

 

Spiny lobster

The spiny lobster closely resembles the true lobster but does not have large claws. It does have to very long antennas on its head. There are many species of spiny lobster that are sold on the Dutch market, that mainly come from the eastern Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean, and the western Indian Ocean. Spiny lobsters usually reach lengths of 20 to 40 centimetres 

 

Spiny lobster

Palinurus spp.
Origin

Mediterranean Sea (FAO 37)

Farming- / Catch method

Bottom otter trawl, Gillnets

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Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

There are several spiny lobster species being caught in the Mediterranean. The fishing pressure is high and at most places the spiny lobsters are overfished. In gill nets as well as bottom otter trawl fishery there is a large problem with bycatch. Sea turtles and endangered sharkspecies are also caught. Bottom otter trawls also damage the bottom habitat. he fishery on spiny lobster is managed on a national level but determined by the overfishing the management is not effective.

Spiny lobster

Palinurus spp.
Origin

Atlantic Ocean, northeast (FAO 27)

Farming- / Catch method

Bottom otter trawl, Gillnets

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Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

There are several spiny lobster species being caught in the north-east Atlantic Ocean. The fishing pressure is high and at most places the spiny lobsters are overfished. In gill nets as well as bottom otter trawl fishery there is a large problem with bycatch. Sea turtles and endangered sharkspecies are also caught. Bottom otter trawls also damage the bottom habitat. he fishery on spiny lobster is managed on a national level but determined by the overfishing the management is not effective.

 

Spiny lobster

Palinurus spp.
Origin

Atlantic Ocean, northeast (FAO 27)

Farming- / Catch method

Pots and traps

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
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  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Fish stocks and fishing pressure
Ecosystem effects
Fishery management
Final assessment
Explanation assessment

There are several spiny lobster species being caught in the north-east Atlantic Ocean. The fishing pressure is high and at most places the spiny lobsters are overfished. The fishing methods with pots and traps is selective and has little bycatch, opposed to the fishery with gill nets which are also used to catch spiny lobster. The fishery on spiny lobster is managed on a national level but determined by the overfishing the management is not effective.

 

ASC label

Fish with the ASC label is farmed in a sustainable manner.

MSC label

Fish with the MSC label is caught sustainably.

Good fish

This fish is not being overfished or is being responsibly farmed, with minimal impact on the environment.

Second choice

This fish is a second choice. There are still some improvements to be made in this fishery or fish farm.

Avoid

Do not buy this fish. It's being overfished or the way it's farmed or caught has a negative impact on the environment.

Welfare

There is fish available of this species that is farmed or caught using high welfare standards.

GlobalG.A.P.

GlobalG.A.P. certified farms are doing a step in the right direction in terms of sustainability. A few species with this label are getting a better score on the VISwijzer.

Organic

Organic standards are the strictest when it comes to fish feed. They also require certain measures for animal well-being.