Canadian Marketer on
Current Lobster Markets
by Geoff Irvine
It’s important that everyone understand that we Canadians have our own seasons. We have specific seasons that are different than those in Maine. We try to fish when the lobsters are at their best quality because of the molt.
You have different challenges. You need to have your product in the summer and we need your product for our processing plants. We both have big challenges, and I think it’s not going to be easy.
We do work together and we do need each other. It’s a big problem for everybody.
Traditionally, Canadian harvests peak in the spring and during December, and American harvests peak in the summer and fall. This volume has allowed for a more or less smooth supplying of both the processing sector in Canada and the live shipping industry for both Canada and the USA. Warming waters and an early moult in the Gulf of Maine combined with a record harvest in both countries led us to low prices for harvesters and consumers, and a difficult market for all in the value chain. It should be the goal of everyone in the USA and Canada to take the action required to return the industry to profitability. In Canada we will focus on quality, branding and promotional efforts. We know our friends in Maine are going through a period of reflection and review. We look forward to their conclusions and ideas.
Geoff Irvine is a Canadian lobster marketer.