European (or Common) lobsters are among the most impressive inhabitants of our coastal waters. These powerful crustaceans can live for several decades and grow to remarkable sizes. In Sussex waters, a lobster caught in Bracklesham Bay in 2011 weighed 4 kg and measured one metre long. But the largest recorded lobster was caught in Cornwall in 1931, and weighed a staggering 9.3 kg and measured 1.26 metres in length. Experts believe it may have been more than 150 years old, demonstrating just how large these animals can become when given the chance to survive and thrive.
Despite their size, lobsters spend much of their lives hidden away. They seek shelter in cracks, crevices and rocky refuges on the seabed, emerging mainly under the cover of darkness at night to search for food. As both predators and scavengers, they play an important role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems. By feeding on a range of species and clearing away dead and decaying material, lobsters help recycle nutrients and contribute to the natural balance of life beneath the waves.
Healthy lobster populations depend on healthy habitats. Rocky reefs, boulder fields and areas of mixed seabed provide the shelter lobsters need to avoid predators, find food and reproduce successfully. Young lobsters are particularly reliant on these habitats, spending their early years tucked away in small crevices where they are protected from larger predators. When these habitats are damaged or disturbed, lobster populations can struggle to recover.
Monitoring carried out by Blue Marine Foundation and local fishers has helped build a clearer picture of how lobster populations are responding to marine protection measures in Sussex waters. Potting surveys undertaken in the Selsey area between 2021 and 2025 (following the ban on trawling in Sussex’s nearshore waters in March 2021) recorded a significant increase in lobster abundance over the five-year period, suggesting that lobster numbers are continuing to grow throughout the surveyed area.
Beyond their ecological importance, lobsters are also deeply connected to Sussex's coastal heritage and fishing communities. Supporting sustainable management helps ensure that lobster populations remain healthy and resilient, benefiting both local livelihoods and the wider marine ecosystem.
As efforts to restore and protect our seas continue, lobsters provide an encouraging example of how marine life can flourish when given the space and conditions it needs to recover.
By Francesco Marzano, Projects Research and Data Officer, Blue Marine Foundation