Lobsters are long-lived animals. Their natural life expectancy is estimated to be somewhere between 50 and 100 years. For some reason, lobsters in Long Island Sound don't seem to grow this large or live this long. They grow faster than lobsters elsewhere and have a life expectancy of only five or six years. Large lobsters seem to be extremely rare or non-existent in the sound.
Small lobsters molt more frequently than large lobsters.
Molting is a physiologically demanding and weakening process. Therefore, lobsters are more susceptible to death when they are molting. If so, the lobster population in Long Island Sound may have a better chance of recovery if larger, physiologically stronger individuals are present. Humans and many other animals build immunity with age. Perhaps lobsters do the same.