ANALYSIS: Maine Lobster Fishing Season Update

Supply: By all accounts, the Canadian spring fishing season was exceptional. First, the weather conditions for fishing were nearly perfect. The catch started early and remained abundant throughout the season, resulting in lower-than-usual acquisition costs. Live buyers, processors, and shippers all met their demands, while tank houses were able to build their inventories to full capacity.

While the Canadian spring fishing season was highly productive, the Maine summer fishing season has been slow to start. However, promising reports of strong landings have emerged in the last week...

ANALYSIS: Brazil Shifts Lobster Trade Away from the U.S.

Shipments of lobster tails from Brazil to the United States have fallen close to 50 percent in the last two years. Census data reveals that between 2017 and 2021, U.S. importers sourced an average of 3.03 million pounds of lobster per year from Brazil. However, in the last two years (2022 and 2023), that number has fallen to 1.602 million pounds, which represents a 47 percent reduction.

This shift may not be due to any change in the appetite of the U.S. consumer but rather an increase in...

Praise For Brazil’s New Spiny Lobster Rules

Brazil’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) and Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MPA) recently published a joint ordinance creating an unprecedented rule for  the 2024 season of catches of two different types of spiny lobster: red lobster (Panulirus argus) and green lobster (Panulirus laevicauda). The new rule limits the total allowable catch to 6,192 tons. 

There have been concerns for years about the overexploitation of the fishery, leading to non-profit organization CeDePesca to work on a Brazilian lobster fishery improvement project (FIP). The organization celebrated the adoption of the...

China Lifts Ban On Australian Beef Exports, But Lobster Suspension Remains 

China may have lifted its ban on certain Australian beef exporters, but its ban on live Australian lobster remains.

China’s customs agency implemented trade-related suspensions on Australian live lobster and beef, amongst other exports, back in 2020. The suspensions were in response to Australia calling for an international investigation into where COVID-19 originated. 

In December 2023, China lifted its suspension for three of Australia’s largest meat export establishments. And now, China has lifted the suspension of another five meat processing...

ANALYSIS: Lower Imports of Lobster in the US and EU Markets, While China is Progressing

Anywhere in the world, lobster is placed at the high end of the crustaceans’ product range, regardless of its species: Caribbean, European or American/Canadian lobsters. China, the U.S., and the EU represent the three largest markets for its consumption.

According to Global Trade Tracker, when considering all species and all forms (live, frozen whole, tail or meat), the total volume imported in these three regions stood at 129.0 thousand metric tons last year. This is 3.4% lower than...

First Seasonal Grid Closure For Gulf of St. Lawrence; First Temporary Closure For Bay of Fundy 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) issued more fishing closures on Wednesday as North Atlantic Right Whale (NARW) detections were documented in Canadian waters. The latest closures include the first seasonal grid closures in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, as well as the first temporary closure for the Bay of Fundy. 

In the Gulf of St. Lawrence, a visual or acoustic detection of a right whale results in a temporary closure of those grids for 15 days. Fishing is prohibited in these areas during...

The Winding Glass: What the Decline of Red Lobster Means for the U.S. Seafood Industry

The possible bankruptcy of Red Lobster is a watershed moment for the seafood industry.

Last month Bloomberg reported that Red Lobster may file for bankruptcy. This follows the announcement in January that Thai Union was ending its losing investment in Red Lobster and taking a $530 million write down.

A Red Lobster bankruptcy and restructuring would be a watershed event. Red Lobster used to be a colossus. During its heyday of rapid expansion and increasing sales in...

Lobster Fishing Along Canada's Eastern Shore Begins

Lobster fishing along Canada’s Eastern Shore began on April 19, with fishermen pulling up their first catches the following day.

While the price of lobster varies, high prices in Nova Scotia can be attributed to a low quantity being caught, compared to past years.

“Leading up to the Canadian spring season, the shore price soared to a record high of $20.00 CAD in March, driving market prices for all sizes to unprecedented levels, surpassing previous records set in 2022. However, with new fishing areas opening up and catch levels on...

NL 2024 Lobster Pricing Agreement Released; Find Out What Changed From Last Year

Harvesters and processors in Newfoundland and Labrador may have struggled to come to a pricing formula agreement for snow crab this year, but the same can’t be said for lobster. On April 15, the day of which the binding Collective Agreements are to be in effect for lobster, the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) and Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) Union released their lobster pricing agreement.

This year, the minimum price for lobster will be $3.25CAD for all Urner Barry Price listings up to...

Lobster and Baseball Go Hand-In-Hand This 2024 Season

Alaska pollock may slowly be taking over National Hockey League arenas, but when it comes to baseball the seafood of choice is … lobster?

Major League Baseball (MLB) stadiums have certainly elevated their food game over the past few years. And while sports lovers can still enjoy a hot dog and funnel cake while they watch their favorite team play, Aramark has been working on developing new culinary creations to take the guest-experience to the next level.

Ahead of the 2024 MLB season...

Judge Finds NMFS Illegally Closed Massachusetts Lobster Fishing Area To Protect NARW

Massachusetts lobstermen are celebrating a much-needed win this week as a federal judge determined that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) illegally closed 200 square miles of federal waters open to trap and pot fishing.

The Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) filed a lawsuit against NOAA in which they argued that the agency’s final rule to permanently close the Massachusetts Restricted Area Wedge (Wedge) and include the Wedge in the larger Massachusetts Restricted Area (MRA) annually, from February 1 to April 30, is “unlawful under the Consolidated...

Phillips Foods Acquires Two Canadian Plants

After months of speculation, Phillips Foods has confirmed the purchase of two Canadian lobster and snow crab plants.

Rumors started swirling in November that Phillips, which primarily focuses on blue and red swimming crab, was looking to expand with lobster and snow crab. Sources told Undercurrent at the time that Phillips was in talks to acquire Pecheries Bas-Caraquet Fisheries, a New Brunswick-based company that was founded in 2010. Then, last month, Maryland-based Phillips formed a Canadian subsidiary as reports indicated that the company was close to purchasing South Shore Seafoods...

Maine Commercial Fisheries Bring In Over $610 Million For Fishermen In 2023

Preliminary data released by Maine’s Department of Marine Resources reveals that commercial fishermen earned $611,277,692 at the dock last year — primarily due to strong boat prices for lobster. To compare, in 2022 Maine harvesters earned $574,049,682. 

“The Maine seafood industry continues to be a powerful economic engine for our state,” commented Governor Janet Mills. “The dedication to sustainability and premium quality by our fishermen, aquaculturists and dealers is a source of tremendous pride for everyone who calls Maine home...

Cousins Maine Lobster Expands in Virginia Almost a Year After Welcoming First Truck In The State

Cousins Maine Lobster franchisees and brothers Yunus and Thameem Shahul are continuing to grow their food truck business. This Friday the Shahul brothers will celebrate the grand opening of their second food truck in Virginia, nearly a year after opening their first food truck in the state.

Yunus and Thameem joined the Cousins Maine Lobster family in 2018 with the launch of their first food truck in Connecticut. Six months after that, the pair added a second truck dedicated to New York City...

Red Lobster’s Crabfest Menu Features “Secret” Flavor Flav Entree 

Red Lobster’s Crabfest menu is expanding with yet another new addition to the lineup: “Flavor Flav’s Faves.” Say that 10 times fast. But there’s a catch. It’s an “off-menu meal,” meaning that it’s a secret menu item that you have to specifically ask your server for. 

In honor of the rapper/ reality TV star and his public devotion for the struggling seafood restaurant, Red Lobster has dropped its limited time “secret menu meal.” The Flavor Flav’s Faves entree features a Maine lobster tail, paired with...

ANALYSIS: Canadian Spring Lobster Season - Update 2 

Supply

The Canadian spring fishing season is shaping up to be exceptional. As we enter the month of June, landings have been robust, substantial, and unrelenting. Perfect weather has allowed fishermen across all LFAs the opportunity to fish consistently. At the peak, there were even talks of a crate shortage due to the rapid influx of product, overwhelming both live and processing markets. The shore price in Canada reached a record $20.00 CAD before the season began, but as each LFA started and raw material became readily available, the price...

Hannaford Supermarkets Kick Off Summer With Grab And Go Fresh Lobster Rolls

Hannaford knows that nothing says summer like a fresh lobster roll. So the grocer is launching its brand new grab-and-go fresh lobster rolls, available in the deli department for just $9.99.

“As a grocery retailer with deep roots in Maine, we’re thrilled to offer our customers the opportunity to enjoy a classic New England staple at such an incredible value,” commented Chef Dorene Mills of Hannaford Supermarkets. “Our delicious grab-and-go lobster rolls are freshly-prepared in our...

DFO Meets With New Brunswick Lobstermen, Agree To Adjust Gulf Closures

New Brunswick lobstermen are breathing a sigh of relief after meeting with officials from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).

A North Atlantic right whale (NARW) detection in the Gulf of St. Lawrence resulted in the DFO temporarily closing a handful of grids. Lobstermen in LFA 23, one of the impacted fishing areas, reportedly refused to remove their gear from the water. And after talks with officials, an agreement was made to keep the fishery open.

“The lobster situation is settled!” Serge Cormier, Member of...

ANALYSIS: Canadian Spring Lobster Season Update

Supply

We're currently in the fourth week of Canada's spring fishing season, and by all accounts, fishing activities have been quite successful. Unlike the fall and winter season, weather conditions have been near perfect as robust landings have been reported across all open LFAs (Lobster Fishing Areas). With the start of the Cape Breton season on the horizon (LFA 27,28,29,30) (Wednesday set), we are entering peak availability for raw material. 

Prior to the start of the spring fishing season, net inventories for both the live and frozen markets were at...

A Deep Dive Into Mother’s Day: Seafood Wins With Special Brunch Menus

Mother’s Day is this Sunday and the National Retail Federation reports that spending in 2024 is expected to reach $33.5 billion. While greetings cards and flowers are always at the top of the list for gift purchases, special outings round out the top three in gift categories for mom. And although “special outings” can mean anything from a concert or exhibit to brunch or dinner, we’re going to focus on the dining element of the holiday—because let’s be honest…mom doesn’t want to cook...

Australian Rock Lobster Fishers Hope for Trade Relief

Australian lobster fishers are calling on China to act before the end of the financial year and peel back trade barriers stopping live and chilled exports, after it lifted heavy tariffs for the wine industry last month.

There have been no direct live lobster exports from Australia to China since 2020, when a $2 million shipment was stuck on the Shanghai tarmac after China's customs agency claimed the lobsters were contaminated.

While Chinese authorities recently lifted onerous tariffs on the Australian wine industry...

ANALYSIS: Live Lobster - Spring Preview

As the Canadian spring season approaches, many eagerly anticipate its arrival. The scarcity of supplies experienced during the fall and winter has been notable and, for some, challenging. While the cause of this shortage may be subject to debate, it is noteworthy that interrupted fishing due to windy weather conditions has been observed in both Maine and Canada. According to Mintec Analytics, in December, average daily wind gusts in Canada surpassed historical expectations by 25%, while in Maine during January, they exceeded historical averages by...

$15 Million Secured For Coastal Communities in Maine Damaged By Recent Storms 

U.S. Senator Susan Collins announced this week that she has secured $15 million dollars to help coastal communities in Maine rebuild, following infrastructure damage caused by recent storms.

The Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill includes $10 million through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which will go towards repairing and renovating infrastructure affected by storms that hit the coast in December 2023 and January of this year. The legislation also includes $5 million to create a new program at the...

ANALYSIS: Declining Canadian Lobster Imports to the EU and the UK in 2023

In 2023, imported volumes of Canadian lobster in the EU and the UK dropped to its lowest levels since 2017, when the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the EU was enforced. According to Global Trade Tracker, imported volumes of live and frozen Homarus Americanus had been varying between 10.0k MT and 12.0k MT between 2018 and 2021, when in 2022, trade-in volumes reached a peak at 12.6k MT (15% up YoY). However, last year imports fell quite severely, by 27.7% at 9,136 MT...

ANALYSIS: Record Wide Spreads Hit Lobster Tail Market

Supply concerns began to emerge in the market for American lobster products after a disappointing fall 2022 effort. Each season, 2022, and both in 2023 had supply gaps in landings where supply was less than expected. Prices have now been on the rise for 14-straight months, rapidly accelerating in the first two months of 2024. Sellers are allocating product for the most part in fear of not being able to meet needs through the spring (the next opportunity for meaningful replacement). Sellers hold remaining inventories with...

Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument Now Bans All Commercial Fishing

It’s been seven years since former President Barack Obama declared two areas of canyons and undersea mountains of such importance ecologically that they should be protected from all development with one 7-year exception: fishing for red crab and lobster could continue until September 2023.

Now, the transition period of seven years is over and in a final rule published last week, the full fishing ban within the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is complete. The rule will take effect March 18, ...

Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries