On a lighter political note, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed informs us by news release that today is National Lobster Day. Reed says that in recognition of the “economic, cultural and historic importance of the lobster industry to Rhode Island and other coastal states,” he is joining Americans in celebrating lobstah, as we in our watery slice of New England call it,
Reed noted that –in a rare feat for Washington, D.C. pols these days – that the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution declaring today National Lobster Day. According to NOAA Fisheries more recent Fisheries of the U.S. report, American lobsters were the nation’s most valuable landed species. Maine led the nation in lobster landings with 132 million pounds. Massachusetts was second with about 18 million pounds. New Hampshire came in third with about 6 million pounds and Rhode Island was fourth with 2.3 million pounds.
Lobster is the Ocean State’s second most valuable fishery, behind squid.