Lobster floats allow anglers to find lobster traps in the ocean.
A lobster float is a type of float that attaches to lobster traps so lobsters can quickly locate and identify the traps, which are set up on the ocean floor. While some recreational lobster fishermen only set a single trap, which can be easily monitored, most members of the lobster harvesting industry set hundreds of traps at a time. The buoys attached to these traps float on the surface of the ocean, making it easy to locate and capture them.
People who work in the lobster harvesting industry set hundreds of traps at a time.
Even if a lobsterman were to pay close attention to where he dropped a lobster trap into the sea, ocean currents and the movements of the trapped lobster tend to move the traps somewhat. A lobster float allows lobsters to not only retrieve their traps by pulling on the attached rope, but also identify errant traps as their own. Lobster-rich waters tend to be coveted by many lobstermen at one time. The different markings and colors on a lobster float can help lobsters differentiate the traps they have set from those of other hunters.
Spiny lobsters are most often found in Australia, New Zealand, and the Caribbean.
The first lobster floats were made of wood. Most were shaped like spheres or rounded rectangles, often with stakes or striped posts. The buoys are usually painted in bright colors so that they are easily identified from a distance. Wood is still sometimes used to make lobster floats, but most modern floats are made of durable plastic.
Jurisdictions where lobster hunting is a major industry generally establish and enforce lobster laws, including regulations on the use of lobster floats. The waters around Australia, New Zealand and the Caribbean produce most of the world’s spiny lobster. Maine and coastal New England in the US provide the largest number of lobsters.
Lobster float laws often pertain to everything from trapping registration to restrictions on paint colors. Buoy users are generally required to register the color and pattern of their buoys with a centralized lobster bureau or agency. No two lobster catchers can use the same lobster float pattern. Hunters are also generally restricted to a certain number of buoys that can be in the water at one time.
The laws also establish punishments for those who manipulate or steal lobster floats. Rival lobsters often steal traps belonging to other hunters. In New England, lobster float theft is also becoming more popular with tourists and recreational fishermen.
Lobster floats have become a quintessential symbol of coastal New England and as such are coveted by collectors and decorators. Old and distressed lobster floats, many of which are still used by experienced lobster fishermen, are at particular risk of vandalism. Various boutiques, both in New England and online, have tried to meet the demand for lobster floats by selling floats that have been retired or made to look aged and vintage.