The primary method for controlling the incidence of gaffkaemia is improved hygiene. Other measures include limiting damage to the exoskeleton (preventing the bacterium's entry), reducing the water temperature, and reducing the stocking density. Antibiotics may be effective against the bacterium, but only tetracycline is currently approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration for use in American lobsters.

Gaffkaemia is enzootic in North America, and causes little harm to wild populations of "H. americanus". In the European or common lobster, "Homarus gammarus", however, it is far more destructive. European lobsters held in the same tanks as American lobsters can be killed within days. A number of other crustacean species can be infected with "A. v." var. "homari", but do not develop severe disease. They include the shrimp "Pandalus platyceros", and the crabs "Cancer borealis", "Cancer irroratus", "Metacarcinus magister", "Libinia emarginata", "Chionoecetes opilio" and "Chaceon quinquedens". Spiny lobsters appear to be either immune or resistant to gaffkaemia.