Canada: Although Competitors,
Maine and Canada Lobster Fisheries Must Cooperate

by Laurie Schreiber

David Alward, Consul General of Canada to New England. “There’s no secret that the body of water we all share is warming and becoming more acidic. The science and innovation that is taking place needs to be collaborative between jurisdictions.” Fishermen’s Voice photo.

PORTLAND—Although the Maine and Canadian lobster fisheries compete against each other for market share, it’s important for the two industries to look at common issues together.

That was the word from David Alward, Consul General of Canada to New England, who spoke at the 15th Canadian/U.S. Lobstermen’s Town Meeting, hosted by the University of Maine Lobster Institute on April 5–6 in Portland.

The theme of the meeting was “Two Nations, Two Fisheries: Shared Challenges, Shared Opportunities.”

Alward represents Canada in the states of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. He has served as the premier of New Brunswick. In his biography, he wrote, “I know how important the Canada-New England relationship is. Rooted in our history, culture, and shared values, this relationship has helped both our economies to grow and prosper. The mutually beneficial trade and investment ties between Canada and New England have helped to create jobs on both sides of the border, and made both our countries more competitive in an increasingly connected global economy.”

“The larger picture is that we’re part of the same ecosystem that allows opportunities for all of us,” he said. “It’s important to ensure we have healthy sustainable sector and ecosystem long term, collectively.”

Alward noted that the lobster fisheries provide huge socio-economic impact in coastal communities along the entire Eastern Seaboard.

“Where would we be without the hundreds of million of dollars that are generated for the states and provinces and for the fishermen and their families and communities?” he said.

As a result, he said, it’s important to figure out how to ensure long-term sustainability of the fisheries. Solutions must not be individual but collective, he said.

Alward said it’s not secret that environmental and climate change are driving fish and crustaceans northward.

“For Maine, New Brunswick, PEI, Quebec, New Foundland, these are good times because the catches have been stronger all the time,” he said. “But there’s no secret that the body of water we all share is warming and becoming more acidic.”

The message, he said, is that both countries must take the situation seriously and look together at protecting fishing sectors in order to ensure continued prosperity for all.

“The science and innovation that is taking place needs to be collaborative between jurisdictions,” he said. “Just like the water is a common ecosystem, our whole region is a common region. If we’re going to deal with climate, we can’t do it alone” in disparate locations. “We have to do it in a collective fashion.”

Canada has been the beneficiary of trade tariffs that have made it more expensive for China to import lobster from Maine, he said.

“That’s affected your business,” he told Maine fishermen. “But our fishermen and you are integrated. Ultimately, we believe free and fair trade is good for everyone. Maine and Massachusetts fishermen need an opportunity to access global markets just like we do.”

The tariffs are hitting not only U.S. lobster fishermen directly, he noted, but businesses throughout the U.S. supply chain, like dealers and processors, as well as ancillary businesses like trap-makers.

“In the long term, we believe the tariffs have to go away.” Alward said. “We can catch all sorts of seafood in the Northeast, but if the rest of the world isn’t able to access it, you’re not going to create prosperity for yourself or your families or communities.”

Alward said right whales is another topic of shared concern.

“There’s a tremendous amount of work going on in the United States and Canada to ensure we’re able to protect and conserve the endangered North Atlantic right whale and, at the same time, sustain and preserve our fishing communities and our fishing sector,” he said.

He noted that Canada has taken action to protect right whales, with the most recent plan coming out this past February.

“The fishing communities have to be an important part of that, if it’s going to succeed,” he said of the planning and implementation process.