Why it matters
Egg-bearing females are the direct source of the next generation. Protecting them is one of the fishery’s clearest conservation rules because the reproductive value is immediately visible.
Berried Female
A female lobster carrying eggs beneath her tail, where the egg mass looks like dark berries.
Definition
A berried female is an egg-bearing female lobster. The eggs are attached to swimmerets under the tail and stay there until hatching.
Conservation impact
NOAA reports that a female may carry from about 5,000 to more than 100,000 eggs depending on size. Protecting berried females, and marking them through V-notching, preserves future spawning output rather than just current biomass.
Quick facts
- Egg load
- About 5,000 to more than 100,000 eggs
- Egg-carrying period
- Roughly 9 to 11 months
- Protection method
- Release plus V-notch in most state fisheries
Related reading
The Future of Lobster Conservation: Challenges and Solutions
American lobster conservation faces a pivotal moment: the 2026 ASMFC Benchmark Stock Assessment found the Gulf of Maine/Georges Bank stock has declined 34% since 2018 and overfishing is technically occurring, while southern New England populations remain at record lows. Here is what the science says about the challenges ahead and the conservation strategies that are working.