A strong correlation has been found between increased temperature and increased rate of disease progression (total change in diseased area). 18°C saw an average overall disease progression 2.8X greater than the 6°C and an average daily progression 2.5X greater. With these rates, it was estimated that progression from initial infection to a moderate level of infection would take just 94 days at 18°C, compared to 232 days at 6°C. Exposure to elevated levels of dissolved CO2, resulting in a lower pH, has been shown to significantly reduce growth rates of American Lobsters. This has potentially significant implications for the commercial fishery that is priced by the pound. As time exposed to lower pH increased, so did the chances of a lobsters developing shell disease possibly because the physiological stress of low pH could inhibit the immune response of the lobsters. Lobsters have also shown an increase in intermolt time with lower pH, suggesting the resulting decreased calcification could also predispose the lobsters to shell disease infection.