“Wild-caught” tells you how a lobster was harvested. “Pounded” and “tubed” describe ways of holding a live lobster after harvest. These terms answer different questions: a wild-caught lobster does not become farm-raised simply because it spends time in a holding system.
What is a wild-caught lobster?
A wild-caught lobster was taken from a natural population. American lobster is a commercial wild fishery in the Northwest Atlantic. The species is harvested in both U.S. and Canadian waters; an origin claim should identify where the actual product was caught.
“Fresh-caught” is less precise. Ask what the seller means by it rather than assuming it guarantees a particular number of hours since harvest. Wild origin, time in holding, and condition on arrival are related purchasing questions, but they are not interchangeable labels.
What are pounded lobsters?
A lobster pound is a holding area used to keep harvested lobsters alive before sale. Traditional tidal pounds use enclosed coastal water; other operations use managed tanks. Holding can help coordinate supply and shipment timing.
Quality depends on the animals’ condition, holding duration, water quality, temperature, oxygen, stocking density, and handling. The word “pounded” alone does not establish that a lobster has been given antibiotics, has shell disease, or is unsafe to eat. Antenna length alone also cannot prove how long an individual was held.
Why tidal pounds became part of the trade
Live-lobster sellers need a way to hold catches between landing and sale. Tidal pounds developed around that practical need. They are part of the distribution process rather than evidence that the lobster was raised from an egg on a farm. A business may also use “lobster pound” in its name, so the name on a sign is not enough to establish its handling methods.
What is a tubed lobster?
In a tubed holding system, individual lobsters occupy separate compartments. Separating animals can limit contact between them, but the compartment itself is not a complete measure of welfare or meat quality. Duration and operating conditions still matter. It is inaccurate to infer a specific loss of muscle or an inevitable disease outcome just from the word “tubed.”
What to ask when buying
- Where was the lobster harvested?
- What size and shell condition are being sold?
- How is the lobster handled before shipment?
- What should you do when the delivery arrives?
Maine Lobster Now’s stated sourcing policy is to sell wild-caught Maine lobsters that have not been pounded or tubed. That is our product-selection policy; it should not be confused with a claim that all other holding systems produce the same result. Review the current live lobster selection and its arrival instructions when planning your meal.
Source: NOAA American lobster fishery overview. Reviewed September 22, 2026.
