Canada's Bolon season concludes, production drops over 10%, prices surge significantly
Published 2025년 7월 21일
Tridge summary
Nat Richard, Executive Director of the Canadian Lobster Processors Association, said: "The downward trend this year is obvious, but not disastrous. Overall, the situation is quite complex. The production decline in Newfoundland was unexpected, the situation in Nova Scotia is not optimistic, but Quebec's production is relatively ideal. If we consider all factors comprehensively, I believe the overall production is declining, with the only question being the extent of the decline."
Canada is the largest lobster fishing country, with an annual production between 93,000-101,000 tons, with typically 50% of production landed between mid-April and mid-July. Canada has about 40 lobster fishing areas, with 32 open in spring, and each area's fishing time varies. The spring season primarily supplies two main markets: one is providing raw materials for North American processing plants, mainly from the St. Lawrence Bay; the other is supplying live lobsters for export markets (primarily China), with hard-shell lobsters from New Brunswick and Quebec being the main source.
Over the past three years, persistently high lobster prices led to the closure of six processing plants in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. This year, reduced competitive pressure for North American processors means remaining companies have more profit opportunities.
The specific production for 2025 will typically be known months later, as Fisheries Canada awaits submission of all fishing logs, with many fishermen in 2024 yet to submit production data.
However, the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW), representing Newfoundland fishermen, collected near-shore operation data, showing a cumulative production of 7,502 tons by July 17, a 26% year-on-year decrease.
Richard said: "This is a huge decline that indeed caught many by surprise. Over the past five years, Newfoundland's production grew rapidly, with 2024 seeing a significant increase that once exceeded 10,000 tons."
Richard also noted that fishing volumes in Nova Scotia's southwestern Areas 33 and 34 (Canada's two largest areas) have been declining, with approximately a 25% reduction in the 2024-25 season.
Data shows that from November 2023 to May 2024, Areas 33 and 34 had a cumulative catch of 21,577 tons
Canada is the largest lobster fishing country, with an annual production between 93,000-101,000 tons, with typically 50% of production landed between mid-April and mid-July. Canada has about 40 lobster fishing areas, with 32 open in spring, and each area's fishing time varies. The spring season primarily supplies two main markets: one is providing raw materials for North American processing plants, mainly from the St. Lawrence Bay; the other is supplying live lobsters for export markets (primarily China), with hard-shell lobsters from New Brunswick and Quebec being the main source.
Over the past three years, persistently high lobster prices led to the closure of six processing plants in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. This year, reduced competitive pressure for North American processors means remaining companies have more profit opportunities.
The specific production for 2025 will typically be known months later, as Fisheries Canada awaits submission of all fishing logs, with many fishermen in 2024 yet to submit production data.
However, the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW), representing Newfoundland fishermen, collected near-shore operation data, showing a cumulative production of 7,502 tons by July 17, a 26% year-on-year decrease.
Richard said: "This is a huge decline that indeed caught many by surprise. Over the past five years, Newfoundland's production grew rapidly, with 2024 seeing a significant increase that once exceeded 10,000 tons."
Richard also noted that fishing volumes in Nova Scotia's southwestern Areas 33 and 34 (Canada's two largest areas) have been declining, with approximately a 25% reduction in the 2024-25 season.
Data shows that from November 2023 to May 2024, Areas 33 and 34 had a cumulative catch of 21,577 tons
Original content
Nat Richard, Executive Director of the Canadian Lobster Processors Association, said: "The downward trend this year is obvious, but not disastrous. Overall, the situation is quite complex. The production decline in Newfoundland was unexpected, the situation in Nova Scotia is not optimistic, but Quebec's production is relatively ideal. If we consider all factors comprehensively, I believe the overall production is declining, with the only question being the extent of the decline." Canada is the largest lobster fishing country, with an annual production between 93,000-101,000 tons, with typically 50% of production concentrated onshore from mid-April to mid-July. Canada has about 40 lobster production areas, with 32 open in spring, each with different fishing periods. The spring season primarily supplies two main markets: one is providing raw materials for North American processing plants, mainly from the St. Lawrence Bay; the other is supplying live lobsters for export markets ...
Source: Foodmate
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