Lobster War

Lobster War
A Brazilian Air Force Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress flying over the French Escort vessel Tartu (D636), off the coast of Brazil in 1963.
Date 1961–1963 Location Waters of Pernambuco, Brazil Result Peaceful resolution of the conflict: Withdrawal of French vessels; Extension of Brazil's territorial waters to a 200-mile zone Fishing authorization granted to French Lobster fishing boats for 5 years, providing a portion be given to Brazilian Lobster fishermen
Belligerents
Brazil Brazilian Navy Brazilian Air Force	France French Navy
Commanders and leaders
João Goulart Ad. A. Toscano	Charles de Gaulle
Strength
1 Corvette Ipiranga (V17) 6 Destroyer Paraná (D29) Babitonga Pará (D-27) Acre (D 10) Araguari (D-15) Greenhalgh (D 24) 2 Cruiser Almirante Barroso (C-11) Tamandaré (C-12) 1 Aircraft carrier Minas Gerais 1 Submarine Riachuelo (S15) 1 Squadron B-17 Maritime Patrol 1 Squadron P-15 4 P-16 Tracker	Offshore Brazil: 1 Escort squadron Tartu (D636) 1 Aviso Paul Goffeny Offshore West Africa: 1 Aircraft carrier Clemenceau 1 Cruiser De Grasse 2 Escort squadron Cassard (D623) Jauréguiberry 5 Destroyers: The Picard Le Gascon L’Agenais Le Béarnais Le Vendéen 1 Tanker La Baise A625
Casualties and losses
None	None 1 ship captured

Peaceful resolution of the conflict: Withdrawal of French vessels;

Brazil

France

1 Corvette

6 Destroyer

2 Cruiser

1 Aircraft carrier

1 Submarine

1 Squadron

1 Squadron

Offshore Brazil: 1 Escort squadron

1 Aviso

Offshore West Africa:
1 Aircraft carrier

1 Cruiser

2 Escort squadron

5 Destroyers:

1 Tanker

The Lobster War (also known as Lobster Operation) is an ironic name given to a dispute over spiny lobsters which occurred from 1961 to 1963 between Brazil and France. The Brazilian government refused to allow French fishing vessels to catch spiny lobsters 100 miles off the Brazilian northeast coast, arguing that lobsters "crawl along the continental shelf", while the French sustained that "lobsters swim" and that therefore, they might be caught by any fishing vessel from any country. The dispute was resolved unilaterally by Brazil, which extended its territorial waters to a 200-mile zone, taking in the disputed lobsters' bed.

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