For the first time, industry organizations are undertaking the task of measuring financial realities of lobster fishermen in hopes that decision makers will use the data to develop policy that protects the economic sustainability of the industry along with the ecological sustainability.
“The lobster harvesting sector is made up of thousands of individuals, each with unique circumstances. That makes it incredibly challenging for fishing organizations to produce a comprehensive financial picture on their behalf,” said Melanie Giffin, President of the Canadian Lobster Research Network (CLRN) in a media release.
“This survey will help us fill this data gap and ensure harvesters and their coastal communities aren’t left without the supports that may be needed during challenging times.”
The industry-led CLRN has been charged with collecting the data from harvesters on behalf of fishing organizations and with the advice of social scientists at Memorial University and the University of New Brunswick. Dr. Paul Foley (Memorial University) and Dr. Melanie Wiber (UNB) remain as scientific advisors for the project. The project is being led by Devan Archibald, Science Director with CLRN.
“The CLRN is leading the implementation of a survey tool, on behalf of fishing organizations, to collect socio-economic data from harvesters throughout the region. The survey tool was developed from 2022 to 2025 through a Future Oceans and Coastal Infrastructures (FOCI) project (Oceans Frontiers Institute) under the direction of Dr. Paul Foley (Memorial University) and co-constructed with academic and industry partners,” said Marlene Chapman, social science coordinator for the CLRN.
In the pilot phase of the project, which launched in October, owner-operators of lobster fleets in Prince Edward Island and parts of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are being asked to voluntarily provide information about their household participation in the fishery, their crew, and fishing expenses such as fuel and bait, among other details that make it possible to estimate the flow of benefits from the fishery to coastal communities. The intention is to roll out the project across the region in 2026.
Eight industry fishing organizations have been taking part in the pilot phase, expected to wrap up at the end of March: Brazil Rock 33/34 Lobster Association (BRLA), Maritime Fishermen’s Union (MFU), Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association (PEIFA) and Gulf Nova Scotia Fleet Planning Board (GNSFPB) member organizations — Gulf Nova Scotia Fisherman’s Coalition, Inverness South Fishermen’s Association, North of Smokey Fishermen’s Association, Northumberland Fishermen’s Association and Fundy North Fishermen’s Association (FNFA).
The CLRN coordinated testing of the survey tool with eight owner-operators from throughout the maritime provinces from January to March 2025. Expressions of Interest were sent to CLRN members in June 2025 seeking interested organizations to partner in the pilot.
“We are currently in the data collection and promotion phase which focuses on promotion and awareness through email, social media, in-person meetings and news media. Data is collected anonymously via a private link to a secure online form or over the phone. Each partner organization will be provided with a summary report of their data after the collection phase is complete,” said Chapman.
The pilot phase of the project was funded through the initial investment in the CLRN by the Atlantic Fisheries Fund, said Chapman.
“We are currently seeking additional funding for a full implementation of the project across the entire species range in Canada (N.B., N.S., N.L., P.E.I. and QC). Full implementation would take up to three years, would include focus groups and the publication of a regional report and/or academic publication,” Chapman said.
Chapman said while the CLRN is not currently targeting fishers who are not a part of an organization, they are welcome to complete the survey, and their contributions will be included in a regional analysis.
“If an owner-operator in the lobster fishery who is not part of an association and would like to complete the survey, they can call or email us for more information,” she said.
“In the short term, fishing organizations who are engaging their members in the survey will be provided with a summary report of the results from their membership and will have access to the data for use in their advocacy efforts. In the longer term, the CLRN is seeking funds to fully implement the survey across the entire species range and complete a regional analysis that would be available publicly,” said Chapman.
The multi-billion-dollar lobster industry is the backbone of eastern Canada’s coastal communities and is under numerous significant threats, including trade wars, climate crisis and inflation. “Unlike many resource industries today, much of the economic benefit of the lobster fishery stays in the coastal and rural communities where it originates. What is the extent of that economic impact and what would happen to our fishing villages if something were to happen to the lobster fishery? This is the question that commercial lobster harvesters are asking,” said the CLRN.
For more information, people are asked to contact their fishing association or the CLRN at 506-480-1458 or 902-318-3943.
The CLRN is an industry-led, multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary research platform that supports sustainable and profitable Canadian lobster fisheries in the face of rapid climate and ecosystem changes. Through the collaboration of our diverse group of stakeholders, our mission is to conduct innovative, multi-disciplinary research that will address the everchanging challenges facing this critical resource and the fish harvesters and coastal communities that depend on it. (www.clrn.ca)
