Lobsters on the Move: UMaine Study Uncovers Major Habitat Shifts and Population Decline

Australia’s $700M Rock Lobster Trade with China Set to Resume

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that the country will resume exports of live rock lobsters to China before the end of the year.

The deal is massive news for Australia’s rock lobster industry, along with Chinese consumers who will again have access to the product for the upcoming Lunar New Year celebrations.

Since 2020, Australian rock lobsters have been effectively prevented from entering China’s market, which was worth over AU$700 million in 2019, per the Australian government...

Cousins Maine Lobster Franchisees Expanding Footprint in Southeastern Florida

Cousins Maine Lobster is at it again. This time, the brand is teaming up with long-time franchisees and brothers Yunus and Thameem Shahul, to expand into the Fort Lauderdale area, expanding the Cousins footprint into Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

The brothers began their relationship with Cousins Maine Lobster in 2018, and the new truck will mark its 17^th unit with the brand.

The brothers shared their excitement for the move with the following statement...

A Look Ahead at Lobster Promos to Celebrate National Lobster Day 2024

National Lobster Day is right around the corner on September 25, and the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative (MLMC) is ready to celebrate Maine’s iconic seafood item.

"National Lobster Day highlights the hardworking individuals and communities that make the fishery thrive," said Marianne LaCroix, Executive Director at the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative. "We encourage lobster fans across the country to show their support for the families who make it all possible by choosing sustainably harvested Maine Lobster."

There will be various promotions and products for consumers to get...

The Retail Rundown: Going All-Out for Autumn

Fall is just around the corner, with the official start of autumn this Sunday, September 22. As cooler weather sets in and travel plans wind down, grocers are ramping up their offerings of seasonal favorites to align with the change in consumer preferences. 

According to the Expana Retail Activity Index, seafood continues to lead for the fourth week in a row, making up 30% of total protein ads. Beef and pork are close behind, each at around 25%, while chicken accounts for 14%. Eggs represent 2.8% of retail opportunities, and turkey has 2.3%...

Atlantic and Quebec Fishing Organizations: More Needs To Be Done To End Illegal Lobster Sales

The Coalition of Atlantic and Quebec Fishing Organizations and the Unified Fisheries Conservation Alliance (UFCA) put out a call on Monday urging the Canadian government to do more to stop illegal lobster sales.

"Enforcing one set of rules for everyone is the key to a strong fishery,” commented Gordon Beaton, president of the Gulf Nova Scotia Fleet Planning Board. ”Impartial, independent enforcement officers at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans are at the heart of a sustainable fishery. We are concerned about...

Premium Brands Holdings Releases Q2 Financial Results

Canada’s Premium Brands Holdings released its Q2 financial results late last week, reporting a record second quarter revenue of $1.70 billion; 4.4% or $71.8 million higher than Q2 2023. Not only that, the company also reported a record second quarter adjusted EBITDA of $164.6 million; an 8% or $12.2 million increase from Q2 2023.

"We are pleased to report another quarter of record sales and adjusted EBITDA as we make steady progress towards achieving our short and long-term strategic objectives," said...

Congressman Golden Issues Another Call To Delay Lobster Gauge Increase Ahead Of ASMFC Summer Meeting

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) summer meeting kicked off Tuesday morning, with a 3-day agenda packed with discussions covering a wide-range of species. But for Maine Congressman Jared Golden, all eyes are on lobster.

The American Lobster Management Board is set to meet from 2:45 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday to discuss the Benchmark Stock Assessment for American Lobster; conservation measures for lobster conservation management areas 2 and 3; complementary management measures with Canada; and, among...

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...

DFO Seizes $100K Worth of Lobsters in Nova Scotia

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced on October 2 that it seized over 13,000 pounds of lobster worth over CA$100,000 (US$74,000) and made an arrest for crimes under the Fisheries Act, including maintaining an illegal lobster pound.

According to a DFO Facebook post, fisheries officers executed a search warrant at a Shelburne County, Nova Scotia facility. The warrant resulted in the seizure of the lobster, documents and electronic records, along with the arrest.

The DFO said the matter is under investigation for potential charges under Canada’s...

Canada’s Conservative Party Rips Federal Government Handling Atlantic Canada Lobster Fishing

Canada’s Conservative Party slammed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the federal government’s handling of alleged poaching around the Bay of Fundy.

Headlines in Canada have emerged with local fishing organizations in the New Brunswick areas alleging that both local and foreign poachers are targeting Lobster Area 36 ahead of the start of its November season.

The Maine Lobstermen’s Association told news outlets that it wasn’t aware of the allegations and denied the claims. Maine Department of Resources spokesperson Jeff Nichols said in a statement...

Island Institute Kickstarts Initiative to Support Maine’s Lobster Industry

The Island Institute received a $1.4 million award from the Small Business Administration to support Maine’s vital lobster industry and the communities that rely on it.

The Institute noted that the Congressionally Directed Spending request was led by Maine Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and would lead to the creation of the ‘Future of Fishing,’ “described as a collaborative effort designed to expand economic opportunities for Maine’s coastal communities.”

“This funding is not just an investment in the lobster industry, it is an investment in the communities that have...

Quiznos Makes it Official: Lobster & Seafood Sub are Year-Round Menu Items 

Lobster & Seafood has a permanent home on the Quiznos menu.

Sandwich chain Quiznos announced that it will serve up an “endless summer” as its Lobster & Seafood sub has become a permanent menu option since July 16.

“Whether we offered the special sub as a limited time offer early in the year or as seasonal summer fare, our guests made it clear they were hungering for more,” said Gregory Boudreaux, Vice President of Operations and Brand Leader at Quiznos’ parent company, REGO Restaurant Group...

Lobster Habitat in the Gulf of Maine Has Changed, Scientists Say

Lobster fishing has been a good business in the Gulf of Maine for a long time. With the exception of a few notable dips, both the landings and value of the catch have been on an upward swing for decades.

Between 1984 and 2014, the lobster population in the Gulf of Maine jumped an estimated 515%, while simultaneously declining by 78% in southern New England as the water warmed in both regions.

While it's started to decline in recent years, numbers are...

FFAW Continues To Butt Heads With Royal Greenland: “Enough Is Enough”

The Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) are demanding “consequences” for Royal Greenland.

FFAW has been fighting with Royal Greenland since the company took a controlling interest in St. Anthony’s Seafoods in September 2020. In the past, representatives from the union have expressed concerns over “excessive hours,” and a “general culture of intimidation and harassment.” On Friday, the union spoke out about how Royal Greenland has “continually refused to follow provincial regulations,” in addition to ignoring the collective bargaining process.

“Since first being allowed to...

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...

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...