The Biological Paradox of the Immortal Lobster: Why the Largest Crustaceans Struggle to Survive Their Own Size
A recent YouTube Short by fisherman Jacob Knowles, titled “Look at this poor Lobsters claw!,” offers a fascinating and sobering glimpse into the life cycle of the ocean’s largest lobsters. While lobsters are often called “biologically immortal,” the video highlights a paradox where their incredible size can become their ultimate downfall.
The Plight of the Old King
Knowles encountered an incredibly large, old lobster in clear distress. The animal’s crusher claw was severely damaged—described as “rotten”—with the thumb nearly falling off. This critical condition is a dire sign that the lobster is desperately overdue for a shed.
Shedding its hard exoskeleton is a survival mechanism for a lobster; it allows them to grow, but more importantly, to repair injuries and overcome diseases. However, for a giant like the one in the video, shedding is both essential and increasingly difficult.
The Price of Immortality
The speaker in the video explains the biological truth: lobsters are technically biologically immortal. They don’t die from typical old-age ailments. The real danger lies in the physical cost of their massive growth.
As a lobster reaches a very large size, the amount of energy required to break out of and regrow its shell becomes astronomical. Eventually, the lobster reaches a point where it simply lacks the metabolic energy to complete the process. When they stop shedding, their shells accumulate damage and parasites, and they lose the ability to repair themselves.
Trapped in their own enormous shells, these “kings of the bottom” can no longer effectively forage. They eventually “lay on bottom and pretty much they starve to death.” Shedding is, paradoxically, the one thing that both keeps them alive and, eventually, puts them at their highest risk.
Maine’s Critical Conservation Effort
Why are these struggling giants so important to protect?
In Maine, where the video was filmed, lobstering laws are designed to conserve these largest individuals. Any lobster measuring over 5 inches on its back (carapace length) must be released back into the ocean.
This law exists because the largest lobsters—the “big guys”—are crucial for the future health of the population. They breed the largest females, and the largest females produce the greatest number of eggs. By protecting these oversized breeders, fisheries ensure the maximum reproductive output, keeping the lobster population healthy for generations to come.
Knowles ultimately released the ailing old lobster, offering it one final chance to summon the energy needed for a life-saving shed. The encounter serves as a powerful reminder of the challenges faced by even the most resilient creatures in the deep and the vital importance of conservation laws.
