The Prince Edward Island or P.E.I. in Atlantic Canada began its lobster spring season on April 25, amid selective harbor dredging.

Although 2025 prospects are high, the possible effect of tariffs on landing prices beclouds the sector. 

Early Opening

Fisheries this year also open earlier than in 2024 when windy conditions had delayed the season to May 3.

For 2025, northern and southeastern shores including Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 24 and LFA 26A1 respectively opened at the earliest.

The southern LFA 23 and 26 B will begin the season on April 30 while the northern LFA 26B on May 2.

Apart from LFA 26B which ends the season on July 2, all other areas will harvest lobster until June 30.

Dredging Works

In LFA 23 and 24, dredging is taking place at the harbours of Malpeque, North Lake and North Rustico. 

According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) on April 23, deepening shorelines helps increase safety and depth for lobstering boats. 

This engineering undertaking will temporarily delay the already open waters in P.E.I.’s northern shore. 

The DFO explained that the dredged debris can range from 1,000 to 20,000 cubic meters underwater.

This waste ends up either far into the sea, by the beachside or in special containers on solid land. 

Prince Edward Island gives such works prominence for the region is highly dependent on fisheries. Around 15% of Canada’s annual lobster haul comes from the diverse coastlines of the island. And as the statistics below detail, the spring lobster season in P.E.I. contributes to the province’s lead crustacean catch.

P.E.I Spring Lobster Season Statistics 

The Prince Edward Island on the Gulf of St. Lawrence has two lobster seasons partitioned by a spawning interim in July. August through October marks the fall season while April 30 to June 30 represents the spring/summer season. The spring harvest is the most lucrative of the two. In a good year, the province produces up to 15% of Canada’s lobster volumes. 

How much lobster does P.E.I produce yearly?

In 2022, lobster was P.E.I’s leading seafood category by volume at 44,373,786 pounds. This represented 40% of all crustacean and mollusc landings that totaled 110,075,003 pounds. 

What are the annual earnings from lobster in Prince Edward Island? 

Like with volumes, lobster is also the biggest seafood in P.E.I by return values. In 2022, the crustacean generated C$312,881,000 ($225,962,658) or 75% of the total crustacean and mollusc landings at C$416,380,000 ($300,709,636).

What are the main market sizes of lobster from P.E.I.’s spring calendar? 

P.E.I. catches the American lobster or Homarus americanus species on the North Atlantic shores during spring. Most weigh less than a pound and fall into two categories: canners, which weigh 275 to 425 g and market lobster at over 425 g.