Canadian lobster is much less expensive, usually than Maine lobster. You can typically find them for 50% to 75% of the price, so why not get the cheaper one? However, when you buy Maine lobster, you’re getting the lobster that people all over the world crave.
Maintaining the Lobster Population
In America, catching lobsters is a regulated activity that fishers have to abide to. According to legal restrictions, fishermen have to measure every single lobster that is reeled in by their lobster pot. A lobster gauge must be used to measure the lobster by starting from the eyes to the end of the carapace.
For a successful catch, the minimum length of a lobster should be above 8.5 centimetres. If it is below the required 8.5 centimetres, the captor must release it back to the ocean as it is still growing. Also, if a lobster is over 13 centimetres, it should be released back into the sea as they are in an excellent size for breeding. This greatly helps to maintain and grow the lobster population.
The American lobster, known scientifically as ‘Homarus Americanus,’ belongs to a species of crustaceans. They are found on the Atlantic coast of North America, and are commonly called Maine lobsters as they are most frequently found off the coast of Maine.
The habitats of these creatures tend to be in cold and shallow waters. These waters are filled with rocks for the lobster to stay safe and out of sight from predators. They usually reside at 4 to 50 meters in the ocean but can be found at 460 meters below the surface level.
In Maine, the sea temperature is higher than the waters in Canada. This causes the lobsters from Maine to be softer than their Canadian counterparts. The slightly warmer environment cause the meat of Maine lobsters to be tenderer and taste more delicious.
When Maine lobsters are removed from the water, they can survive up to 48 hours. Transportation of the Maine lobster is carried out overnight to maintain the quality, flavour, and freshness.
Canadian lobsters thrive in colder temperatures, in which their shells become denser. This affects its physical characteristics, with the sweetness and tenderness of the meat being relatively less than that of Maine lobsters.
As their shells are denser, Canadian lobsters can survive outside of water for up to 72 hours. People often choose to purchase Canadian lobsters based on their survivability duration, which makes them easier to transport and distribute. Canadian lobster suppliers capitalise on this to distribute fresh lobsters to consumers. Hence, most lobsters in supermarkets are Canadian lobsters.
Canadian lobster prices are much lower than the prices of Maine lobster because the latter has a higher demand with people raving about it.
A lobster pound a facility that houses lobsters in tanks for rearing purposes. The tanks are filled with nearby sea water and have a regulated environment. Over time, due to the increased demand for lobsters, a significant part of the global supply is derived from lobster pounds.
Lobster pounds often feature an in-house restaurant. These restaurants specialise in lobster dishes and cater to lobster lovers. Other than lobster, they also serve other varieties of seafood such as salmon.
Unfortunately, lobsters from pounds are often poor in health and contain artificial antibiotics to prevent them from dying. While they may appear to be healthy, negative health issues may arise from their long-term consumption.
Is There A Difference Between Maine And Canadian Lobsters?
Both Maine and Canadian Lobsters belong to the same species – “Homarus Americanus”. However, differences between these two types of lobsters lie in their area of inhabitation and their physical makeup.
Canadian Lobster Known as Maine or Boston Lobster
FAQ
Is lobster cheaper in Canada?
Does Canadian lobster taste different than Maine lobster?
Does Canada have good lobster?
How much is a 1 lb Maine lobster?
Why are Maine lobsters more tender than Canadian lobsters?
The main factor causing this is water temperature. Along the coast of Maine, the temperature is higher than the waters of the Canadian coast. Since the temperature is higher in Maine, Maine lobsters have meat with a delicate, sweet flavor and a soft texture. It’s more tender than Canadian lobsters and is considered to be more succulent.
Are Maine lobsters fresh?
Maine and Canadian lobstersare often sold fresh, due to their high value. The cold water lobster meat is chewier, sweeter than the warm water lobster, and especially the meat from the 2 claws and the sticks of shrimp are soft, smooth and have a very distinctive flavor.
Is Canadian lobster cheaper than Maine lobster?
Canadian lobster is much less expensive, usually than Maine lobster. You can typically find them for 50% to 75% of the price, so why not get the cheaper one? However, when you buy Maine lobster, you’re getting the lobster that people all over the world crave.
Is there a difference between North Atlantic lobsters and Canadian lobsters?
The result of this is that there’s not necessarily a real difference between North Atlantic lobsters, whether they were caught off the coast of Maine or Nova Scotia or New Brunswick. Lobster connoisseurs will tell you that cold water makes a lobster’s shell hard, however, and that Canadian lobsters live in colder water than Maine lobsters.