Eastern Canada offshore lobster

MSC status

Certified as sustainable in 2nd June 2010. 

Summary

Species: Lobster (Homarus americanus)
Location:  Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 41
Fishing methods:  Trap
Vessels:  2
Number of fisheries: 1

More about lobster

In Nova Scotia, lobster do not mature until about eight years of age or more, with adults typically growing slowly to potentially large sizes (extreme specimens of 20 to 40 lb weight captured many years ago occur in several North American museums). They have a one or two-year reproductive cycle, and low individual fecundity, producing 5-10 000 eggs at first maturity up to 130-150,000 eggs in later life. These are either extruded the same year or a year later, hatching and detaching a further 10-12 months later in July or August.

More about the fishing methods

The offshore lobster fishery is strictly a commercial one and is conducted using rectangular wire coated lobster traps measuring 48” long, 16” wide and 11” tall. Traps are set in strings, or trawls, of 120-150 and are joined by a ground line approximately 14 fathoms apart. Traps are constructed in panels connected by biodegradable clips and all traps are fitted with escape vents for small lobsters. Strings are anchored at each end with a surface line attached to a buoy and high flyer. Vessels set about 30 strings at a time stretching about 1.2 miles with a 4-5 day soak time. Trips typically last 4 to 5 days. Depths fished are 100-320 m.

Fishery tonnage

TAC 720 tonnes

Commercial market

Offshore lobsters are landed whole and generally sold in the live market. Value added products include raw frozen lobster in shell or meat. Approximately 95% of the landed catch is exported, with the United States being the largest market (approximately 75% of the catch is sold into the USA). Other important export markets for live lobster are Europe, followed by Japan.

Actual eligibility date

13th July 2009