Posted by secondhand on October 14, 2002 at 13:37:01:
I went diving Saturday night at Butterfly Beach in Monticeto, and I noticed a large number of dead lobsters in the surf zone. I must have seen 15 dead ones that didn't have any indications of being injured or attacked. I noticed these as the tide was going down, so they were perhaps washed up and were waiting to become a meal for another sea creature.
I also noticed a few dead ones on the sea floor at about 15 feet, again with no sign of injury. It certainly was not a molt, and it's eyes were clear so I would estimate it had only been dead for a short amount of time. The largest dead one I saw, was over 4" at the Carapace- which would have made a great meal had I have caught it!
Has anyone else ever witnessed this phenomenom or know what causes it? Is it pollution? Should I be weary to eat lobsters from this beach? Please let me know.
Thanks,
Jim-