Recently, The Associated Press reported that a group of bipartisan New England senators were supporting the start of an official National Lobster Day. Being loyal crustacivores, we were all over that news and were surprised to learn that there wasn’t an official National Day already, only an unofficial one on June 15.

Well, our curiosity got the best of us and we reached out to Chris Murphy, Connecticut Senator, to find out more about this initiative. He was kind enough to talk to us about their propsal, the importance of lobster in CT, his thoughts on lobster rolls (mmmm), and how we can help out.

OmNomCT: Thank you again, Senator Murphy, for letting us interview you regarding your support of National Lobster Day. We know that there is an unofficial Lobster Day in June, so we were wondering why you and other senators from New England want to have an official one on September 25?

Senator Murphy: “Personally, I like to think of every day as Lobster Day. I think those of us who represent lobster fishing states have a responsibility to help our homegrown industries get the recognition they deserve. So whether it’s official, unofficial, September or June, the more attention Connecticut’s lobster industry gets, the better.”

OmNomCT: Why is lobster so important here in Connecticut?

Senator Murphy: “Today, more that 120 million pounds of lobster are caught each year in the United States. Sadly, lobster fishing has declined in Connecticut because of dramatic declines in lobster stocks. The industry is still a strong cultural presence in Connecticut and the fishing and maritime industry are part of Connecticut’s history. It is my hope that National Lobster Day will draw attention to the environmental conditions that are impacting fish stocks in Long Island Sound and help us act to improve them.”

OmNomCT: What’s your favorite way to take down a lobster, Senator? Right from the shell, salad, lobster roll (hot or cold?), or something else?

Senator Murphy: “That’s a tough one, but let me just make one thing perfectly clear: hot lobster rolls are the only way to go.”

OmNomCT: We know that you worked with a bi-partisan group of New England senators on this resolution. What does that tell you about the importance of getting a National Lobster Day?

Senator Murphy: “A National Lobster Day would give us a day to celebrate the lobster season in the United States, its remarkable role in our nation’s history, and its current culinary preeminence. It will also be a great opportunity to teach our kids fun facts about lobsters, like the fact that many historians believe that lobster joined turkey on the table at the very first Thanksgiving Day feast, that it used to be served as prison food, or that lobster shells were once used to make golf balls!”

OmNomCT: And, finally, is there anything that people can do to help support your mission and make National Lobster Day an official national day?

Senator Murphy: “You can call or write your lawmakers and ask them to support this resolution. But, perhaps even more importantly, you should urge your lawmakers to protect the Long Island Sound and the marine life that call it home. Long Island Sound is a $1 trillion asset and working to protect the Sound is a priority for me as your U.S. Senator.”

More about Senator Murphy from his site:

Senator Christopher S. Murphy is the junior United States Senator for Connecticut. Elected in 2012, Murphy serves on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, and the Joint Economic Committee.

Prior to his election to the U.S. Senate, Murphy served Connecticut’s Fifth Congressional District for three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Fifth District includes the towns of Danbury, Meriden, New Britain, Torrington, and Waterbury. During his three terms, Murphy served on the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the Energy and Commerce Committee, and the Committee on Financial Services.

Before his service in the U.S. Congress, Murphy served for eight years in the Connecticut General Assembly. He spent four years representing Southington and the 81st district in the House, and then spent four years representing the 16th Senatorial District, which includes the towns of Waterbury, Wolcott, Cheshire and Southington. While in the Senate, he served as the Chairman of the Public Health Committee.

Senator Murphy grew up in Wethersfield, Connecticut, and attended Williams College in Massachusetts, graduating with honors and a double major in history and political science. In 2002, he graduated from UConn Law School in Hartford, Connecticut. He practiced real estate and banking law from 2002-2006 with the firm of Ruben, Johnson & Morgan in Hartford.

On August 18, 2007, Murphy married Cathy Holahan, an attorney. They have two sons named Owen and Rider.