The lobster and the damming of the Oosterschelde
Lobster numbers have increased sharply since the Oosterschelde has been dammed.
Trends
The lobster population began to grow sharply as soon as work began on the damming of the Oosterschelde. Even before the dam was completed in 1986, there were important changes in currents and other features that the lobster profited from. Nowadays the environmental conditions in the Oosterschelde are more favourable for the lobster than they used to be. Firstly, the Oosterschelde is more saline, because the Philipsdam and Oesterdam now prevent fresh river water entering. The storm surge barriers have also greatly reduced the tide and currents, and have resulted in clearer water.
In Europe the lobster occurs along western Atlantic and western Mediterranean coasts, at depths of 2-40 m, preferably where the coastline is rocky and provides plenty of shelter. In the Oosterschelde, lobsters occur on artificial rock-like substrates, such as on dikes made of basalt blocks. They only breed when the water temperature is at least 15°C and the water is very saline.
Overfishing has led to a sharp decline in lobsters throughout Europe.
