American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Also known as Lobster
Culinary Profile
Mild and sweet.
The meat is firm and somewhat fibrous. The tail meat is firmer than the meat from the claws.
Lobster is low in saturated fat and is a very good source of protein and selenium. The FDA advises consumers to not eat the tomalley, the light-green substance found in the lobster.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
American lobster is a crustacean with a large shrimp-like body and 10 legs, two of which are large, strong claws. One claw is a big-toothed crusher claw for pulverizing shells, and the other is a finer-edged ripper claw, resembling a steak knife, for tearing soft flesh.
Biology
American lobsters have a long life span. It’s difficult to determine their exact age because they shed their hard shell when they molt, leaving no evidence of age. But scientists believe some American lobsters may live to be 100 years old. They can weigh up to 44 pounds.
Where They Live
Range American lobsters are found in the northwest Atlantic Ocean from Labrador to Cape Hatteras. They’re most abundant in coastal waters from Maine through New Jersey, and are also common offshore to depths of 2,300 feet from Maine through North Carolina. Habitat American lobsters live on the ocean floor. They live alone and are very territorial.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round. In New England, where most lobsters are landed, the peak harvest season extends from May to November.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Maine to North Carolina.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery: In 2023, commercial landings of American lobster totaled 121 million pounds and were valued at $633 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . The two stocks of American lobster—Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank, and Southern New England—support both inshore and offshore fisheries. The Gulf of Maine and Southern New England areas are predominantly inshore fisheries, while the Georges Bank area is predominantly an offshore fishery. Most U.S. harvest is caught in inshore waters. There’s a reason we associate Maine with lobsters—the state has led American lobster landings for over 3 decades. Massachusetts is the second leading producer. Together, these two states produce 93 percent of the total U.S.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 65 Species
Where American Lobster ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choline | 70.3 mg | 5 / 65 | 92% |
| Zinc | 3.53 mg | 6 / 111 | 95% |
| Selenium | 63.6 µg | 7 / 106 | 93% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 102 mg | 60 / 104 | 42% |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.25 µg | 74 / 106 | 30% |
| Protein | 16.52 g | 80 / 111 | 28% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 68 mg | 90 / 104 | 13% |
| Iron | 0.26 mg | 93 / 111 | 16% |
| Phosphorus | 161 mg | 104 / 111 | 6% |
Other New England/Mid-Atlantic Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as American Lobster.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
American Plaice
Hippoglossoides platessoides
Subtle, sweet flavor.
Atlantic Chub Mackerel
Scomber colias
Rich, pronounced flavor.
Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab
Chaceon quinquedens
Sweet and clean.
Atlantic Halibut
Hippoglossus hippoglossus
Halibut has a very mild, sweet taste.
Atlantic Pollock
Pollachius virens
Sweet and delicate.
Atlantic Salmon
Salmo salar
Buttery, rich taste.
Atlantic Sea Scallop
Placopecten magellanicus
Sea scallops have a sweet, rich taste that can be mild or briny.
Haddock
Melanogrammus aeglefinus
Slightly sweet.
Shortfin Squid
Illex illecebrosus
Mild, and subtly sweet.
Similar by Flavour: Other Mild-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the mild flavour profile of American Lobster, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Pollock
Gadus chalcogrammus
Pollock has mild-tasting flesh and is similar to other white fish like cod or haddock.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Atlantic Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
Mild flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where in the water column does American Lobster live?
Range American lobsters are found in the northwest Atlantic Ocean from Labrador to Cape Hatteras. They’re most abundant in coastal waters from Maine through New Jersey, and are also common offshore to depths of 2,300 feet from Maine through North Carolina. Habitat American lobsters live on the ocean floor. They live alone and are very territorial.
How does American Lobster reproduce?
American lobsters have a long life span. It’s difficult to determine their exact age because they shed their hard shell when they molt, leaving no evidence of age. But scientists believe some American lobsters may live to be 100 years old. They can weigh up to 44 pounds.
How much American Lobster is caught commercially?
Commercial fishery: In 2023, commercial landings of American lobster totaled 121 million pounds and were valued at $633 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . The two stocks of American lobster—Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank, and Southern New England—support both inshore and offshore fisheries.
How much choline does American Lobster contain?
A 100 g raw serving of American Lobster supplies 70.3 mg of choline, around 13% of the 550 mg daily value — notable for prenatal and liver-health contexts.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught American lobster is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
There are two stocks of American lobster: Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank and Southern New England. According to the 2025 stock assessment conducted by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC): The Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank stock is not overfished, but subject to overfishing. The Southern New England stock is overfished and not subject to overfishing.
Population
The Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank stock is not overfished. The Southern New England stock is overfished, but management measures are in place to promote population growth.
Fishing Rate
The Southern New England stock is not subject to overfishing and the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank stock is subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Fishing gears used to harvest American lobster have minimal impacts on habitat.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
The states and NOAA Fisheries cooperatively manage the American lobster resource and fishery under the framework of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). Each lobster harvesting state has three members on the ASMFC lobster management board, and NOAA Fisheries has one representative on the board.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 20 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.