Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, lobster processors expressed concern on Monday about reports of more soft-shelled lobsters than usual this year in Southwest Nova Scotia, although graders have determined that more than 90 percent are hard-shelled, which is the grade needed to ship long distances.
Denny Morrow of the Nova Scotia Fish Packers Association said that while many soft-shelled lobsters landed in the first week of the season, overall the catch has been very healthy.
“There have been stories and there are people that think there is something wrong with the lobster, because we had a lot of soft-shelled the first week of the season,” Morrow said.
Bob Newell, owner of Newell’s Lobster Pound, said rumors of sick lobsters can be economically harmful, particularly during the Christmas rush.
