In trawled areas the rocks are bare and both complexity and productivity is decreased. From these examples, we can cautiously conclude that bottom trawling has a significant impact on lobster habitats in coarse-grained sediments like boulders, cobble and gravel, but little effect on finer grained sediments. This still leaves a few habitats where bottom trawling probably does little damage. Adult lobsters are also subject to man's influence. Lobsters have historically been known to live for more than 30 years.
Lobsters are sensitive to chemicals and have been known to vacate areas that have become polluted.
However, not all of these impacts are negative. Some of the largest lobsters have been known to occupy man-made shelters such as discarded cans and barrels. Other important human activities which may lead to pollution and lobster habitat destruction include landfills, dredging, dumping, industrial wastes, spills and sewage outfalls. Point sources of pollution come from industrial plants, such as pulp and paper mills, fish processing plants, textile mills, metal fabrication and finishing plants, municipal sewage treatment plants, and chemical and electronic factories. Non-point sources are not as easily located.