Irelands waters are widely regarded as the finest lobster fishing grounds in Europe. The much exposed west coast of Ireland is especially apt for lobster fishing as the ground tends to be rock. lobsters will generally be found where there is most shelter. It is in there nature to hide or crawl under craggy surfaces with claws out ready to catch anything that passes them by. The Irish lobster season generally starts around the month of March and can last depending on the weather conditions well on towards Christmas time.
Lobsters stocks are now rapidly becoming depleted due to overfishing and this is why there has been efforts made in recent times to conserve the lobster stocks. An Bord Iascaigh Mhara launched a scheme of late where each fisherman v-notches a percentage of there yearly catch it has mostly been up to the fishermen themselves the amount they want to v-notch.
V-notching is where there is �V� shaped piece notched out of the lobsters tail.This is done on berried females if possible because you are assured that you are conserving the species.Where I fish each year each boat v-notches a certain amount of lobsters in some areas it is done in conjunction with B.I.M (Bord Iascaigh Mhara).V-notching is done widely throughout the world as an a means of conservation.V-notched lobsters cannot be landed or sold, this way they are breeding and the stock is growing each year.
