Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Atlantic lobster is found along the eastern coast of North America, in a habitat of rocks and seaweed that provides food and shelter from predators.
Harvest Methods, Locations and Seasons
Lobster harvesters still use a traditional method to fish lobster: traps attached to lines are set out in the ocean and are hauled in to retrieve the catch. This method maintains the integrity of the seafloor by minimizing disruption.
There are 41 Lobster Fishing Areas (LFA’s) in Canada spanning across the provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island. Most of the harvest occurs close to shore, usually within 15 kilometres. There is also an offshore fishery that harvests in the deep basins and outer banks off southwestern Nova Scotia, about 90 kilometres from shore.
Management of the Fishery
Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the lobster industry are working collaboratively to develop integrated management plans for the lobster fisheries in the 41 different fishing areas. These plans take into account the particularities of each lobster fishing area and set out management measures accordingly.
The inshore lobster fishery is managed by effort control, which involves limits related to gear and the number of fishing days rather than a quota system. Lobster fishing seasons are designated for each lobster fishing area and they are staggered to protect summer molts. Lobster landings average between 45,000 and 50,000 tonnes per year.
The offshore fishery is open year-round and the total allowable catch of 720 tonnes for this fishery has remained unchanged since it was established.
Managing Environmental Impacts
Several management measures are implemented, in collaboration with industry, to limit the impacts of the fishery on the environment. Examples of conservation and management measures include limiting the number of traps that each licensed harvester is allowed to set and determining minimum size limits (and in some cases, maximum size limits) for lobster carapaces (outer shell). Minimum carapace size limits help to ensure that 50 % of females have a chance to reproduce at least once. That objective has already been reached in many of the areas.
In Canada, female lobsters caught bearing eggs must be released to ensure that the reproductive cycle can continue, i.e. that the females can grow larger, spawn several times, and produce more and better quality eggs. Some harvesters cut a small v-shaped notch in the female’s tail prior to its release. The v-notch remains visible for several years. Females with this notch cannot be sold and must be released.
Trap designs are also regulated. They must include escape mechanisms to reduce the retention of undersized lobsters, as well as biodegradable panels and rings to ensure that traps lost-at-sea do not continue to catch lobster and other species (“ghost fishing”).
Some lobster fishing areas also have management measures such as restrictions on fishing at night and on Sundays to help reduce fishing effort.
Science Advisory Reports by the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat
The stock assessments for lobster are done through scientific peer review processes that include external experts and fishermen. Stock assessments are done on a regular basis for all Lobster Fishing Areas, either individually or in groups of LFAs. The results are made available to the public through the Web site of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat.
Sustainable Seafood Certification with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
On August 6, 2008, Canada’s offshore lobster fishery (Lobster Fishing Area 41) entered full assessment for MSC certification as a sustainable fishery, and certification was obtained on June 2, 2010.
To learn more about this assessment process, visit the MSC web site.
Lobster Fishing Areas in Atlantic Canada
Area |
Season |
| 3-4 | April 20th – July 15th |
| 9-12 | April 20th – July 30th |
| 13 | April 30th – July 10th |
| 14 | May 5th – July 10th |
| 15 | June 1st – August 12th |
| 16 | May 20th – August 10th |
| 17 | June 5th – August 5th |
| 18 | May 20th – July 31st |
| 19, 21, 23 | May 9th – July 9th |
| 20a, 22, 24 | May 1st – June 30th |
| 26a, 26b, 29 | May 1st – June 30th |
| 20b | May 8th – July 7th |
| 25 | August 10th – October 10th |
| 27 | May 16th – July 15th |
| 28 | May 10th – July 9th |
| 30 | May 20 – July 20 |
| 31a | April 30th – June 30th |
| 31-32 | April 20th – June 20th |
| 33-34 | Last Monday in November – May 31st |
| 35 | March 1st – July 31st / October 15th – December 31st |
| 36 | April 1st – June 29th / 2nd Wednesday in November – January 14th |
| 38 | 2nd Thursday in November to 4th Thursday in June |
| 40 | Closed to inshore-offshore lobster fishing |
| 41 | Open all year |
This information is courtesy of Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.