Canada's pollock fishing season starts on schedule, but prices are under pressure.

According to the Cold Water Lobster Association (CLA), the Dumping Day in zones 33 and 34, which often got delayed due to bad weather in previous years, was held on schedule this year, a rare occurrence. Meteorological data showed that the morning of the day had a southwest wind of 15 knots and waves about 1 meter high, making it relatively suitable for going out to sea. To take advantage of the weather window, fishing boats in zone 34 set sail at 5 a.m., and those in zone 33 at 7 a.m.

A large number of fishing boats released lobster traps on the 24th, and it is estimated that the first batch of lobsters will come ashore on Tuesday, with dock prices expected to drop to about CAD 10 per pound ($7.14/lb), lower than last year's CAD 11.50–12.00 per pound.

Zones 33 and 34 are the core production areas for Canadian lobsters, and their combined production last year was 24,814 tons, accounting for more than a quarter of Canada's total production. Their opening prices and production volumes will determine the overall market trend. This year, the overall market prices are under pressure, with the U.S. wholesale market having fallen for three consecutive weeks, and the Chinese market experiencing a slowdown in demand due to trade frictions.

Data from the Canadian Marine Fisheries Bureau shows that in 2024, Canadian lobster exports reached CAD 2.9 billion, making it the country's highest-value seafood export, with CAD 1.2 billion of that coming from Nova Scotia.