Beneath the waves, a global industry with billions on the line thrives, as seen in Maine’s staggering 109.3 million pound haul that dominates U.S. lobster landings while Canadian catches hit record values and international markets from Australia to Vietnam fiercely compete.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, Maine's lobster fishery landed 109.3 million pounds of American lobster, accounting for 80% of the U.S. total landings.
- Global spiny lobster production reached 75,000 metric tons in 2021, led by Australia with 28% share.
- Canadian Atlantic lobster landings hit a record 47,200 metric tons in 2022, valued at CAD 2.9 billion.
- U.S. total lobster landings value exceeded $700 million in 2022.
- Maine lobster industry contributed $1.5 billion to state GDP in 2022.
- Global lobster market size valued at $5.2 billion USD in 2023.
- World lobster consumption per capita was 0.12 kg in 2022.
- U.S. lobster import volume from Canada was 60 million pounds in 2022.
- China imported 15,000 tonnes of live lobster in 2023 post-tariff lift.
- American lobster biomass in Gulf of Maine declined 20% since 2014 to 150 million lbs in 2023.
- Lobster shell disease prevalence reached 25% in southern New England stocks in 2022.
- Canadian LFA 41 lobster fishery achieved 95% escapement rate under quota system in 2022.
- Maine lobster industry directly employed 2,800 full-time fishers in 2022.
- Canadian lobster sector supported 12,000 jobs including processing in 2022.
- U.S. lobster processing plants employed 4,500 workers nationwide in 2023.
The global lobster industry is economically significant but faces serious climate and sustainability challenges.
Economic Value
- U.S. total lobster landings value exceeded $700 million in 2022.
- Maine lobster industry contributed $1.5 billion to state GDP in 2022.
- Global lobster market size valued at $5.2 billion USD in 2023.
- Canadian lobster exports reached $3.5 billion CAD in 2022.
- U.S. lobster wholesale price averaged $5.50 per pound in 2022.
- Australia's rock lobster export value was AUD 1.2 billion in 2021-22.
- Maine processed lobster products generated $400 million in revenue in 2022.
- Global spiny lobster trade volume was 45,000 tonnes valued at $1.8 billion in 2022.
- Massachusetts lobster fishery economic impact totaled $250 million in 2022.
- EU imported 25,000 tonnes of lobster worth €1.1 billion in 2022.
- Prince Edward Island lobster sector added $500 million to provincial economy in 2022.
- U.S. live lobster exports to China dropped 90% in value to $100 million in 2022.
- Nova Scotia lobster exports valued at $2.1 billion CAD in 2022.
- Global canned lobster market revenue was $450 million in 2023.
- Maine bait lobster sales reached $50 million in 2022.
- Vietnam spiny lobster export value hit $200 million USD in 2022.
- U.S. lobster retail price averaged $25 per pound in 2023.
- Rock lobster futures contracts on Australian exchange traded 1,200 lots in 2022.
- New Brunswick lobster processing employed 2,500 workers generating $300 million in 2022.
Economic Value Interpretation
Lobsters, it seems, have not only mastered survival in the deep but also in our global economy, creating a multi-billion dollar industry where their greatest trick is being delicious enough to justify the wildly escalating price tag from boat to plate.
Employment Data
- Maine lobster industry directly employed 2,800 full-time fishers in 2022.
- Canadian lobster sector supported 12,000 jobs including processing in 2022.
- U.S. lobster processing plants employed 4,500 workers nationwide in 2023.
- Prince Edward Island lobster fishers numbered 5,200 active licenses in 2022.
- Massachusetts lobster fleet consisted of 1,200 vessels in 2022.
- Global lobster aquaculture employed 15,000 workers mainly in Asia in 2022.
- Nova Scotia direct lobster harvesting jobs totaled 7,500 in 2022.
- Australia's rock lobster fishers: 1,800 license holders in 2022-23.
- New Brunswick lobster processing workforce was 3,000 in 2022 season.
- U.S. lobster captains averaged 15 years experience, with 60% over 50 years old in 2023 survey.
- Vietnam spiny lobster farming supported 8,000 rural jobs in 2022.
- Rhode Island lobster license holders: 850 commercial in 2022.
- Maine sternmen (crew) jobs numbered 4,000 seasonal in 2022.
- EU lobster processing indirect jobs: 10,000 linked to imports in 2022.
- South Australia southern rock lobster operators: 220 quota holders in 2023.
- U.S. lobster industry average wage for fishers was $55,000 annually in 2022.
- Canadian Maritime provinces lobster-related tourism employed 2,000 in 2022.
- Global lobster supply chain logistics jobs: 25,000 estimated in 2023.
- Connecticut lobster fishers: 300 active with average vessel size 35ft in 2022.
Employment Data Interpretation
Despite an ocean of statistics suggesting a sprawling global workforce, the lobster industry is essentially a vast, salty network of niche specialists, from a few thousand wizened New England captains to legions of Asian aquaculture workers, all united in the delicate art of wrdling dinner into luxury.
Market Trends
- World lobster consumption per capita was 0.12 kg in 2022.
- U.S. lobster import volume from Canada was 60 million pounds in 2022.
- China imported 15,000 tonnes of live lobster in 2023 post-tariff lift.
- EU lobster consumption grew 5% YoY to 28,000 tonnes in 2022.
- Live lobster air freight from North America to Asia totaled 20,000 tonnes in 2022.
- U.S. frozen lobster tail market share held 40% of total imports in 2022.
- Online lobster sales in U.S. surged 25% to $150 million in 2022 holiday season.
- Japan imported 8,500 tonnes of spiny lobster worth ¥50 billion in 2022.
- Canadian lobster market price index rose 12% in 2022 due to supply constraints.
- Global sustainable lobster certification under MSC covered 30% of production in 2023.
- U.S. restaurant lobster menu prices averaged $38 for a 1.5 lb lobster in 2023.
- Australia-China rock lobster trade recovered to 6,000 tonnes in 2023.
- Processed lobster product exports from U.S. hit $120 million in 2022.
- Europe preferred hard-shell lobsters, importing 70% as such in 2022.
- Mexico spiny lobster exports to U.S. were 4,000 tonnes in 2022.
- U.S. domestic lobster consumption was 45 million pounds in 2022.
- Ready-to-cook lobster kits sales grew 18% to $80 million in U.S. 2022.
- South Korea imported 2,500 tonnes of live lobster in 2022.
- Lobster roll sandwiches outsold 10 million units in New England 2022.
- Global lobster price volatility index was 15% in 2022.
- Maine lobster exports to Europe reached 12 million pounds valued at $150 million in 2022.
Market Trends Interpretation
We're so collectively devoted to clawing our way up the luxury food chain that we've built a global, high-stakes, and volatile airlifted economy where a single crustacean can be simultaneously a casual roll, a status symbol on a menu, and a certified sustainable commodity changing hands across continents for billions.
Production Statistics
- In 2022, Maine's lobster fishery landed 109.3 million pounds of American lobster, accounting for 80% of the U.S. total landings.
- Global spiny lobster production reached 75,000 metric tons in 2021, led by Australia with 28% share.
- Canadian Atlantic lobster landings hit a record 47,200 metric tons in 2022, valued at CAD 2.9 billion.
- U.S. lobster trap hauls numbered 4.2 million in 2023, with an average catch per trap of 0.85 pounds.
- Australia's rock lobster exports totaled 7,200 tonnes in 2021-22, primarily to China.
- In 2020, Vietnam produced 1,500 metric tons of spiny lobster from aquaculture.
- Massachusetts landed 18.5 million pounds of lobster in 2022, down 15% from 2021 due to warming waters.
- Global wild-caught lobster production was 180,000 tonnes in 2022, excluding aquaculture.
- Prince Edward Island, Canada, harvested 12,000 metric tons of lobster in 2022.
- U.S. Gulf of Maine lobster stock biomass estimated at 250 million pounds in 2023 assessments.
- New Brunswick, Canada, lobster landings reached 18,500 tonnes in 2022.
- Baja California, Mexico, spiny lobster fishery yielded 5,200 tonnes in 2021-22 season.
- Rhode Island commercial lobster landings were 1.2 million pounds in 2022.
- South Australia's southern rock lobster catch was 550 tonnes in 2022-23.
- Connecticut lobster pot fishery effort was 120,000 traps in 2022.
- Nova Scotia lobster fishery produced 40% of Canada's total landings in 2022 at 18,880 tonnes.
- U.S. lobster recruitment index showed 1.2 billion age-1 lobsters in 2022 surveys.
- Western Australia rock lobster harvest was 5,800 tonnes in 2022.
- New Hampshire landed 500,000 pounds of lobster in 2022.
- Cuba spiny lobster landings totaled 3,500 tonnes in 2021.
- Maine's lobster license holders numbered 5,500 active in 2023.
Production Statistics Interpretation
While Maine lobstermen can still boast about hauling in the lion's share of America's crustacean bounty, the global claw game is heating up with Canada reeling in record profits, warming waters nipping at Massachusetts' catch, and aquaculture quietly growing in the wings, proving this industry is a complex and lucrative shell game.
Sustainability Metrics
- American lobster biomass in Gulf of Maine declined 20% since 2014 to 150 million lbs in 2023.
- Lobster shell disease prevalence reached 25% in southern New England stocks in 2022.
- Canadian LFA 41 lobster fishery achieved 95% escapement rate under quota system in 2022.
- Global spiny lobster overfishing status: 40% of stocks fully exploited in 2022 FAO report.
- Maine's vertical zoning reduced juvenile mortality by 15% since 2010 implementation.
- U.S. Northeast lobster egg production per female averaged 8,000 in 2022 surveys.
- Australia's western rock lobster fishery rated MSC sustainable with 100% compliance in 2023.
- Ocean warming caused 97% decline in Long Island Sound lobster abundance since 1999.
- V-notching program in Maine marked 50 million female lobsters since 1997, boosting reproduction.
- Global aquaculture lobster production contributed only 5% to total supply, minimizing pressure on wild stocks.
- Canadian lobster fishery carbon footprint estimated at 2.5 kg CO2e per kg landed in 2022.
- Southern rock lobster illegal fishing in South Australia reduced to 1% of catch via tracking in 2022.
- U.S. lobster fishery bycatch rate under 1% with vented traps in 2023 observer data.
- Climate models predict 50% Gulf of Maine lobster harvest reduction by 2050.
- Baja California spiny lobster minimum size increased to 82mm carapace in 2022 for stock recovery.
- Lobster predator abundance (e.g., cod) declined 60% since 1990s, aiding juvenile survival.
- 80% of Maine lobstermen adopted biodegradable panels in traps by 2023.
- Global lobster stock status: 25% underexploited, 50% fully exploited per FAO 2022.
- Acidification impact: lobster larval survival down 30% at pH 7.8 in lab studies 2022.
- U.S. lobster trap loss reduced 40% via RFID tagging pilots in 2023.
- Maine lobster fishery achieved 100% observer coverage target for sustainability audits in 2022.
Sustainability Metrics Interpretation
The lobster industry is a tale of precarious triumphs and sobering declines, where valiant conservation efforts are swimming against a tide of warming seas and rising threats.
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