Lobsters are one of the most popular and delicious seafood delicacies around the world. Many countries have thriving lobster industries and compete to be the top global producer of these prized crustaceans. But what country catches and processes the most lobster every year?
What are the top lobster producing countries?
According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the top lobster producing countries in 2018 were:
- United States
- Canada
- Australia
- China
- Brazil
These five countries account for over 80% of the global lobster supply. However, there is one country that stands out above the rest in terms of total lobster production.
The United States is the leading lobster producer
In 2018, the United States produced over 158,000 tonnes of lobsters, making it the undisputed top producer globally. This accounted for more than 30% of the world’s lobster supply that year. The vast majority of US lobster comes from the cold, rich fishing grounds off the coast of New England and Maine.
American lobster fishing has been an important economic and cultural tradition in this region for over a century. Technological advances in lobster fishing equipment and transportation have allowed American lobstermen to scale up their operations dramatically over the decades.
The American lobster fishery is very well regulated and managed to prevent overfishing. Lobster populations are closely monitored and strict regulations are in place dictating when, where and how lobstermen can fish.
Maine leads US lobster production
Within the US lobster industry, the state of Maine stands out as the powerhouse producer. Approximately 80% of American lobsters come from Maine waters, with over 120 million pounds harvested annually. Famous for its delicious hard-shell lobsters, Maine has a long cultural history of lobster fishing and processing along its rugged Atlantic coastline.
The peak season for Maine lobster runs from summer through early winter when lobsters are most plentiful near the shore. The state carefully manages lobster licenses and quotas to prevent overfishing. Thanks to these sustainable practices, Maine’s lobster population remains healthy and productive.
Canada is a close second for lobster production
Canada takes the number two spot globally for lobster production. In 2018, Canadian lobster fisheries harvested over 157,000 tonnes of lobster according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
The Canadian lobster industry is concentrated in the Atlantic maritime provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Quebec. As in the US, lobster fishing plays an important role both economically and culturally along Canada’s Atlantic coast.
The lucrative Canadian lobster fishery targets both hard-shell and soft-shell varieties. While Maine is famous for hard-shells, Canada’s cold water fisheries like those off Nova Scotia have ideal conditions for raising soft-shell lobsters.
Leading species of commercially fished lobster
There are dozens of lobster species found across the world’s oceans. However, the American lobster (Homarus americanus) and European lobster (Homarus gammarus) make up the bulk of global commercial lobster production. Other species like the rock lobster, spiny lobster and slipper lobster have niche commercial fisheries globally.
China is developing a sizable lobster industry
China has rapidly emerged as a major player in lobster production over the past decade. According to the UN FAO, China produced over 15,500 tonnes of lobster in 2018, making it the fourth largest global producer.
Chinese demand for lobsters has exploded due to the rising middle class and appetite for luxury seafood. High domestic prices have spurred Chinese investment into growing the country’s lobster aquaculture sector. China now has sizable lobster farming operations along its northern and eastern coasts.
Going forward, experts predict China will continue ramping up its domestic lobster production through aquaculture. This could eventually threaten the dominance of American and Canadian wild caught lobsters. However, current farming technology cannot yet produce lobsters at the same quality, size and taste as wild caught.
Other major lobster producers
Apart from the top producers, a number of other countries have significant lobster fisheries and make important contributions to the global supply chain:
- Australia – Over 10,000 tonnes annually from fisheries in the southern and western coasts.
- Brazil – Around 8,500 tonnes annually, mostly spiny lobsters for export.
- Cuba – Around 7,000 tonnes annually of Caribbean spiny lobsters.
- Nicaragua – Approximately 5,000 tonnes annually, focusing on spiny lobsters.
- Honduras – About 5,000 tonnes annually, also exporting spiny lobsters.
Global lobster industry trends
Lobster remains a high priced, luxury seafood item around the world. Global production has been on the rise to satisfy increasing demand from Asian markets, fine dining restaurants, and seafood consumers willing to pay a premium for quality lobster.
Advancements in lobster fishing, processing and distribution technology allow countries like the US and Canada to export more lobster globally. At the same time, lobster aquaculture is slowly developing as a way to boost production without relying solely on wild caught lobsters.
Moving forward, expect strong growth from China’s lobster industry as it invests heavily in lobster aquaculture. This may eventually threaten the dominance of American and Canadian lobster in certain export markets. However, the supremacy of Maine and maritime Canada for wild caught, high quality lobsters is unlikely to be surpassed any time soon.
Conclusion
When it comes to global lobster production, the United States is clearly the leading country thanks primarily to the enormous output from Maine. For decades, Maine has perfected the art and science of raising and catching delicious American lobsters. The state’s sustainable fishery management ensures its lobster boom continues.
Canada takes a close second place thanks to its thriving maritime lobster fisheries on the Atlantic coast. And while upstart lobster farming industries like China’s are growing fast, they cannot yet match the quality and production volumes of wild caught American and Canadian lobsters. For die hard lobster lovers worldwide, Maine and maritime Canada remain the holy grail for these succulent, coveted crustaceans.