Maine Processor Has An Incredible Way Of Getting Lobster Out Of Its Shell

Maine has more lobsters than it knows what to do with.

With catches more than double what they were a decade ago — due to more fishermen, fewer predators, warmer water, and good conservation— the industry is struggling with pricing pressure and distribution constraints. Processing is the best way to expand distribution, but it's an underdeveloped industry, currently dominated by the Canadians.

Shucks Maine Lobster, an innovative processor near Portland is looking to expand operations. Shucks is one of just 16 processors in the state, according to the company's president John Hathaway. It's the only place in the United States that uses water pressure rather than cooking to loosen the meat from the shell, allowing workers to extract the meat in one piece.

This processing method allows Shucks to sell packaged lobster in its raw form, producing a fresher meal for buyers around the country. Restaurants and supermarkets can use the product in lieu of live lobsters, which are expensive to ship and store. Individual consumers like the so-called "Lazy Man's Lobster" because they don't have to deal with the trauma and mess of boiling and shucking a live lobster.

To read the rest of the story, please go to: Business Insider