Lobster-rich Atlantic Canada is attending the Boston Sea Expo North America in Boston to find market alternatives amid bothersome tariffs.
The event has drawn fishermen and lobster industry representatives from New Brunswick (NB) and other Atlantic provinces/territories. Each is in one way or another seeking alternative customers at the international event.
This follows the latest blow on the crustacean sector after China slapped 25% surtax on lobster imports from Canada, effective March 20, 2025.
Although the event is in the U.S., it is certain that visiting Canadians will not be assuaging their traditional American customers.
Instead, they will be eyeing reps from over 50 countries who might perchance buy their shellfish reasonably.
One of these is Gilles Theriault, executive director of the New Brunswick Crab Processors Association. He told CBC that he is here to find how customers will cope with inflated lobster prices after tariffs.
Another is lobsterman Bruce Wilson from NB, who on March 16 opined that any tariff, whether 5% or 25%, hurts all.
The 25% tariff especially smacks a country that exports 67% of its seafood to the U.S. and 16% of lobster to China.
In 2024, China and the United States shared 83% of Canada’s total lobster dispatches worth $525 million and $1.9 billion, respectively.
Stakes are even higher if the United States applies a 25% seafood tariff on April 2, coinciding with Canada’s lobster season.
The duty will affect the April-June spring opener of a two-pronged Atlantic lobstering season, the other in December.
Meantime, reps of the shellfish industry and fishermen themselves could strike a deal or two in Boston. Could this market be Japan, Singapore, the UAE or Europe? The statistics below answer that question by including current markets for lobster from the Atlantic coastline of Canada.
Atlantic Canada Lobster Statistics
Atlantic Canada is famous for its lobster quality and taste. For this reason, it rakes in C$1.8 billion ($1.257 billion) each year, as of 2018, per Canada Action. Around 97,000 tonnes of lobster are landed on the coastline each year (2018). Much of it ends up mainly in the U.S. and China, but other destinations in Asia and Europe command shares.
Are there other markets for Canada’s lobster exports?
With 83% market share of all lobster exports from Canada, the United Stares and China lionize trade. However, the UK at US$4.28 million and Singapore at US$2.4 million, in 2023 imports, serve as major external destinations. The UAE, at US$1.07 million in 2023 imports, ranks among the fastest upcoming markets.
Is the Atlantic the only source of lobster in Canada?
Canada’s Atlantic coast provides over 50% of the world’s North Atlantic lobster, which makes it the exclusive source in the country. Although Pacific Canada has a few reserves of lobster, these are still in introduction phase. There have been many botched attempts since 1896 to hatch them there.
Which provinces lead in the production of Atlantic lobster in Canada?
Based on 2022-23 statistics, the Prince Edward Island landed 30 million pounds of lobster. Newfoundland and Lablador in their part landed some 6,052 tonnes of lobster worth C$105 million ($75.353 million). Quebec follows with a landings’ value worth C$200 million ($139.72 million) per year. Nova Scotia in its part landed a lobster value of C$450 million ($314.27 million) in the 2022-23 season. New Brunswick claimed the 2020 season with 16,393 tonnes of lobster of an export worth of $693.1 million ($484.2 million).