Canada: Should the lobster carapace size be increased in southwestern Nova Scotia?

Lobster license holders in Atlantic Canada are grappling with the decision to adjust the minimum lobster carapace size to comply with new regulations by the Maine Department of Marine Resources, effective from Jan. 1, 2025. These regulations, aimed at conserving juvenile lobster populations in the Gulf of Maine, will incrementally increase the minimum carapace size, eventually barring Canadian lobsters under 84 mm from the U.S. market. This decision is influenced by factors such as sustainability, economic impact, and the potential for accessing alternative markets, given the significant export of Canadian lobster to the U.S. The decline in lobster landings in LFA 34 in southwestern Nova Scotia and the implications of the size increase on catches are pivotal in this decision-making process. Discussions among Canadian fish harvesters and industry stakeholders are ongoing, with the Lobster Council of Canada addressing the changes and the uncertainty they bring. A district-wide vote among LFA 34 licence holders is being considered to determine the response to the U.S. size increases, amidst concerns over the lobster population and the commercial fishery's future.