The illegal importation of live lobsters is giving Government `claws' for concern.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries says businessmen are bringing in boxed lobsters which could harbour germs which could do untold damage to the Island.

Director John Barnes said: "Lobsters pose an environmental problem in that they can carry bacteria and virulent pathogens we don't know anything about.

"They could get into the marine environment and harm the coral.

"About eight to ten years ago we had a lot of people bringing in lobsters from the direct flight from Halifax and also Boston.

"We worked with airports and everybody else. It was a once in a blue moon occurrence,'' he said.

"But since last Christmas we have seen more instances of people bringing in live lobsters.

"They sell them live in cardboard boxes with seaweed at airports,'' he said.

Asked what diseases live fish could carry Mr. Barnes said: "That's an open question.

"We have no way of knowing if pathogens which are very benign in cooler water could go ballistic in warmer water. It might cause an epidemic.

"Indeed the seaweed they come packed in could be the worst offender.'' "People come back from a business trip and want one for themselves and the Mrs. that night.

"We understand it can be annoying for people who have paid $50 for a lobster and then get them confiscated but you would rather people didn't bring them in the first place.

"We just want to remind people who might have forgotten that you can't bring them in -- no matter how tempting they are at the airport.

"Lobsters are the main problem but there's also mussels and shell fish -- clams and oysters -- they can carry all sorts of things growing on them.

He said shell fish were a particular danger because bacteria living on the outside could get into the soil when people threw away the remains.

"You can bring in frozen or cooked lobsters -- they must go through that processing. I have brought them back myself cooked -- that's no problem.

"If it's refrigerated an hour and a half flight won't hurt it at all.'' He said wholesalers with a certified area which will not spread contamination are allowed to bring in live lobsters.

A Government spokesman said that importers needed a licence from the Minister of Environment to import live fish.

The spokesman added: "People who contravene the regulations face a penalty fine of up to $5,000.''