Lobster

Lobster Tales

Shelburne County is home to the Lobster Capital of Canada

The lobster grounds off of southwestern Nova Scotia are amongst the richest in the world, so it’s only fitting that Shelburne County is home to the Lobster Capital of Canada. The lobster fisheries have been the economic backbone for all of our communities in Shelburne County for centuries, dating back to the mid-1800’s. Shelburne County celebrates the ending of the Lobster season each year with a Lobster Festival the first full weekend in June.

Savour freshly prepared lobster delights in many of our restaurants in the County, from right out of the shell to our traditional creamed lobster or try our new spin on lobster with lobster poutine! Whichever you choose, we are sure you will be back for more!

Download information about pdf Lobster Tales Lighthouse Trail (4.14 MB) .

Fun Facts about Lobsters

• Lobsters are both great-tasting and nutritious and are a high source of Omega-3 fatty acid.
• The largest lobster caught off Nova Scotia weighed 44lbs 6oz, was 3ft 6in long and was up to 65 years old
• Lobsters take 6-8 years to reach market weight
• Lobsters are capable of living 100 years
• Lobsters must moult (shed their shell) in order to grow
• During its first year, a lobster can moult as many as 10 times
• Lobsters aren’t red. They turn red when they are cooked. Normally they are brown to olive green in colour but have been known to be yellow or even blue!
• A lobster’s teeth are located in their stomach
• A lobster tastes with its legs
• A lobster has two claws – crusher claw and a pincer claw
• Lobsters were once considered poor man’s food and was served in prisons
• Lobster fisherman throw back lobsters that are too small in size
• Our lobster season (Southwest Nova Scotia) runs from the last week in November to the last week in May

The Cape Island Fishing Boat

The famous Cape Islander was designed and built on Cape Sable Island in 1907. It is a very familiar sight along the coast of Nova Scotia. The fishing boat has been modified from its original design over the years to adapt to the present-day requirements of the fisherman, but the hull of the boat has remained basically the same. The Cape Islander plays a prominent role in the lobster and fishing industry, not only in Shelburne County but in Nova Scotia and beyond. Stroll our many wharves, see the boats and talk with our fishermen and learn about life on the ocean first hand.