Lobster Gets a National Day, Sept. 25

Sept. 25 was recently designated "National Lobster Day" by a vote of the U.S. Senate. Two Maine senators, Angus King and Susan Collins, proposed the new holiday on July 27th as a way to recognize lobster's prominent place in the U.S. culture and economy.

"For generations, hardworking men and women have hauled lobster out of Maine's waters and sent them around the globe where they're prized as a delicacy," King and Collins said in a news release. "National Lobster Day not only recognizes their still-growing popularity, but it also underscores the significant role that lobsters play in supporting the economies of coastal communities across the country."

More than 120 million pounds of lobsters are caught each year, and lobstering has played a role in economic growth in the U.S., as the release noted.

"Maine Lobster is a culinary icon and economic powerhouse," Matt Jacobson, executive director of the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative, said in the release. "The designation of an official National Lobster Day not only garners excitement amongst food enthusiasts but also recognizes the hard-working individuals who have dedicated their lives to the industry and bringing Maine Lobster from trap to table. We are grateful for the support of Senator King and Senator Collins in moving this resolution and acknowledging our industry efforts."

The National Lobster Day resolution can be found online.

Lobster populations are monitored and managed by Maine's Department of Marine Resources' Sea Sampling Program that began in 1985. Under this initiative, trained observers ride aboard individual lobster boats, at different locations along the coast, to record information as the lobsterman hauls traps and collects the lobsters caught. The number of legal, sublegal and illegal lobsters are counted, measured and sexed.

According to the Lobster Conservancy, two lobster species belong to the genus Homarus, both of which have a significant commercial importance. Homarus americanus is commonly known as the American lobster, the Northern lobster, or the Maine Lobster.

When it comes to eating lobster, "Most people in the industry prefer the new shell: the 'shedders.' Their meat is sweet, and the shells are easy to break apart," David Dow, former director of the Lobster Institute in Orono, Maine, said in a statement. On the other hand, some consumers claim hard-shelled lobsters are tastier for their firmer meat.

So when Sept. 25 rolls around, how will you celebrate this year's first National Lobster Day?

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