Marine Scotland has launched a campaign to help raise awareness of American lobster (Homarus americanus) in Scotland.

Native to the east coast of the northern USA and Canada, American lobsters have been imported live into Europe for several decades resulting in their escape into the wild, first recorded in the UK in 1988.  Every year Marine Scotland and other UK administrations receive a small number of reports of American lobster being caught in UK waters.  These animals cannot cross the Atlantic naturally and therefore have appeared because people have released them, either deliberately or accidentally.

American lobsters are considered as an invasive non-native species as they are not indigenous to Scotland and they pose a threat to the native wildlife and have the potential to have a significant impact on the European lobster (Homarus gammarus) fisheries.  However, the status of American lobsters is not well understood, especially in Great Britain where reports have been sporadic. Reports of American lobsters being caught in coastal waters around Britain collated between 1988 and 2011, positively identified 26 individuals using standard taxonomic techniques.  American lobsters were found predominantly in waters off southern England, with no confirmed reports from Wales and a single report from Scotland. However, there are anecdotal reports of American lobsters being found in much greater numbers

Marine Scotland is calling on people to report any American lobsters caught in Scottish waters to build a true picture of where the animals are, in what quantities and if they are breeding.  Click here.

Marine Scotland has also issued new briefing on Didemnum vexillum, commonly known as ‘carpet sea-squirt’, an invasive non-native marine organism that is now known to be established in the UK.

The main pathways for spread of D. vexillum in marine environment include shipping, recreational boating and via the movement of aquaculture stocks. Due to the rapid growth and potential significant impact of D. vexillum on native organisms and habitats it is essential to manage this species in such a way that minimises its spread.

The new briefing includes information on identification and action to take on finding it.  Click here.