Kaspian (8) catches a large lobster – in a river in Askvoll – news Vestland

8-year-old Kaspian Vilnes Mjåseth had got off the school bus the following Monday. He was on his way home when he looked in the river for oars, as he usually does. – There was a lobster there. I went home to get boots. I grabbed him by the tail to see if he was alive, and he was, says the fourth grader who lives at Atløy in Askvoll municipality. The boy pulled the lobster out of the river and carried it home. The lobster weighs 4.6 kilograms and is 48 centimeters long in its body. Total length is 78 centimeters. He has never seen such a large lobster before. – He was a bit heavy to carry. At home, he proudly showed the lobster to his mother. – “What did you say,” I think she said. The large lobster has large claws, but Kaspian was not afraid that the lobster would bite. – One of the claws was broken, so he couldn’t pinch me with it anyway. Video: Leni Vilnes Mjåseth Upset and giddy Dad Kent Rune Mjåseth says he was quite shocked after his son had caught a lobster in the freshwater river – about 200 meters up from the sea. – Mother was quite shocked, and I came straight afterwards. They were quite so excited and giddy. I don’t think Caspian himself understands how unique it was. He has never before heard of lobsters in the river, and also says that the size is enormous. – I think it’s been 10 years since I saw such a big lobster. It’s pretty intense. But he looks a bit old and tired. A male lobster can live to be 40 years old, and this must in any case be half that. European lobster Latin name: Homarus gammarus Lives on hard bottom with hiding places in rock piles, ravines or under rocks at a depth of 5 to 40 metres. Widespread along the coast from the Swedish border to Trøndelag and sporadically in Nordland The female lobster can live up to 70 years, the male lobster up to 40 years It rarely has a total length greater than 38 cm. The lobster population along the Norwegian coast has been greatly reduced compared to the 1950s and 60s. (Source: Institute of Marine Research) Probably getting lost upstream Marine researcher Sigurd Heiberg Espeland at the Institute of Marine Research says it is unusual for lobsters to end up so far up the river. The size is also rare. He has a theory about what happened to the lobster. – In many rivers near the sea, salt water rises up on the bottom of the river. There is salt water below the fresh water layer. It may be that the lobster has lived in some kind of saltwater cave, and then got lost. He says that the lobster would have gradually developed a problem with the salt balance, and would have gradually died in the river. Tonight he spoke with some colleagues. – They have said that this is rare, or it could have been a walking story. But sometimes lobsters and fish get confused and don’t understand where they are. The alternative is that someone has captured it and released it, but that doesn’t make sense either. The lobster does not age very much, because Kaspian has plans for a good meal. – We will cook him, and then I will eat the lobster together with my friend. This lobster soon becomes food for Kaspian and his friend. Photo: Kent Rune Mjåseth



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