Responsible Seafood Summit: “Some Fails But Overall Success” With Ropeless Gear In Snow Crab Fishery

“Ropeless is hopeless.” It’s a phrase that many snow crab and lobster harvesters can likely relate to following the declaration of the unusual mortality event for North Atlantic right whales in 2017. 

Martin Noël, a snow crab fisherman and Captain of the FV Jean-Denis Martin in New Brunswick, has been fishing for 29 years. And on the “ Close To Home: Innovation and Adaptation Amongst Canadian Snow Crab and Lobster Fisheries” panel at the Global Seafood Alliance’s Responsible Seafood Summit...

Celebrate National Lobster Day with Maine's Iconic Fishery

The Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative (MLMC) is proud to celebrate the 8^th annual National Lobster Day on Sept. 25 and commemorate the legacy of the hardworking men and women behind one of Maine's oldest and most important industries.

For more than 150 years, the lobster fishery has been a vital part of Maine's cultural heritage, symbolizing the state's coastal identity and providing a way of life for generations of families who sustain their coastal communities and protect the resource.

"We're delighted to commemorate National Lobster Day by honoring the people and communities...

China’s Inland City Buys Fresher Lobsters From America at Lower Costs

13-tons of Boston lobsters have been flown directly from New York to Jinan, one of China’s inland cities on August 10, according to a report from ThePaper.cn. Now with direct cargo flights between the two cities, lobsters can be delivered in as short as 48 hours to foodies in the inland city. These fresh lobsters are popular among local sellers, some of whom see great increase in their lobster sales and are planning to buy more.

One of them is Zhang who said his store plans to buy...

Maine DMR Confirms Body of Missing Lobstermen Recovered Near Addison

The Maine Department of Marine Resources confirmed on Friday that the body recovered near Addison earlier this week was Tylar Michaud, the 18-year-old lobsterman that went missing last month.

Michaud went missing in late July. He was last seen heading out to haul and set traps near Petit Manan Point. When he failed to return home a missing persons report was filed. His empty boat was found the next day. Fellow lobstermen expressed fears that Michaud may have went overboard with his gear...

Cousins Maine Lobster Launches New Franchise Market in Maryland

Cousins Maine Lobster is continuing their year of growth, announcing the launch of their newest franchise market in Maryland. The operation, which will be led by CML franchisee veterans, brothers Yunus and Thameem Shahul, marls the 54th unit for the Cousins Maine Lobster franchise system.

“Our growth has been measured and strategic,” commented Jim Tselikis, co-founder of Cousins Maine Lobster. “Not only have the Shahul brothers grown with Cousins Maine Lobster, but Cousins Maine Lobster has grown with them. We truly believe that our strength is in our franchisees and we are thrilled to grow in the DMV with Yunus and Thameem at the helm.”

Florida Days Away from Start of Spiny Lobster Season

Florida’s 2023 spiny lobster season will open later this week for a two-day recreational “mini-season” on July 26-27, with the regular commercial and recreational seasons to start shortly after on August 6.

“My family and I look forward to spiny lobster season every year along with thousands of other Floridians,” said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Chairman Rodney Barreto. “It’s a great time to get out on the water with loved ones. I hope everyone takes care to practice safe...

More Than $35 Million For Maine’s Lobster Industry in FY24 CJS Appropriations Bill

Senator Susan Collins announced on Thursday that more than $35 million has been advanced for Maine’s lobster industry in the FY24 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies appropriations bill. 

“Flawed and incomplete data is being used to inform regulations, creating unnecessary, burdensome requirements for Maine lobstermen and women,” said Senator Collins. “This funding would support Maine’s iconic lobster industry by improving the incomplete and imprecise science upon which the federal government relies. As the Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee...

MLMC’s New Maine Characters Campaign Puts Spotlight On The Individuals Who Bring Lobster To The Table

The Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative (MLMC) is showcasing the people behind the lobster in their latest campaign: “Maine Characters”

Beginning July 15, lobster fanatics will be able to enjoy a new twist on the Maine lobster roll with the launch of the “Celebrate the Maine Lobster Roll,” a limited-edition roll that spotlights the Mainers behind the industry. 

“Everyone is familiar with the Maine lobster rolls, but not everyone knows the countless people who’ve..

Shanghai Enjoys Noticeable Increase In Seafood Imports During The First Five Months Of The Year

According to statistics from Shanghai customs, the city’s seafood import has raised by 41.9% to 10.95 billion yuan from this January to May compared with the same period last year, according to Shanghai Observer. The import of Pudong Airport alone has ballooned by 1.2 times to 22 thousand tons, and the airport has welcomed such seafood as lobsters, crabs, shrimps, and oysters from countries like France, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, and Thailand.

Moreover, great quantities of seafood have also flooded into the...

ANALYSIS: A Look At The Live and Product Market As Canada's Lobster Spring Season Winds Down

The Canadian spring lobster season is winding down with a few weeks of fishing remaining. By most accounts, the season thus far in terms of landings has fallen short of expectations. Weather issues early on caused delays in setting traps and has reared its head throughout the season keeping boats at dock.  Small stretches of back-to-back fishing days have offered some relief to buyers who were looking to rebuild frozen inventory levels; however, a more recent slowdown in...

Maine Lobstermen Win Big In Court 

On Friday, June 16 the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit released their opinion on the lawsuit filed by the Maine Lobstermen's Association (MLA) against the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). And in a welcomed surprise, the court ruled overwhelmingly in the favor of MLA.

To understand the big win in court we have to go back to September 2021 when the MLA filed a lawsuit that challenged the federal government’s 10-year whale protection plan. MLA said at the time that the new regulations were based on faulty science and...

August Maine Lobster Event To Benefit Efforts to Save Maine Lobstermen

An upcoming summer festival taking place at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath is set to benefit efforts to save Maine lobstermen. 

“Maine and lobster go hand in hand, which is why it’s almost unbelievable to think there could come a day when Maine’s iconic lobster industry is forced out of business,” commented Jesse Roche, a commercial fisherman from Bath and the volunteer event organizer. “Our way of life is at risk, and I want people to see that we all need to work together to...

ANALYSIS: Canadian Lobster Shore Price Remains at CA$8.00; Selling Prices, Margins Continue to Erode

All major fishing areas in Canada are currently open, including LFA 24, which was temporarily closed due to right whale sightings. Although fishing in the Gulf area started slowly due to weather, decent landings are reported out of Gaspe Peninsula, Madelaine Islands, Cape Breton and New Foundland. Meanwhile, Southwest Nova Scotia, LFA 33-34 closed after an extension due to the forest fires.

The shore price in Canada retreated from the $13.00 CAD level at the start of the season and has been...

Pair of Maine Lobstermen Have Licenses Suspended for Marine Resource Law Violations

A pair of Maine lobstermen had their licenses suspended by the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) for violating “laws intended to protect harvesters’ property and to sustain the lobster resource.”

Calvin Pinkham, 55, of Steuben, was charged last year for stealing 59 lobster traps that belonged to seven other fishermen. DMR Commissioner Patrick Keliher suspended Pinkham's license for three years.

Pinkham pleaded guilty to seven counts of trap molesting and was ordered to pay $8,732 in restitution to the victims. His license will be reinstated in 2025...

Trade Joe's Introduces New Seafood Offerings For Fall

Trader Joe’s is always releasing new products. This time around there are a few seafood items that should make everyone’s shopping list.

With fall quickly approaching there are plenty of seasonal goodies hitting the shelves, like Apple Cinnamon Buns, Butternut Squash Italian Lasagna, Gluten Free Pumpkin Ravioli and Mini Maple Flavored Marshmallows. The latest seafood items are perfect for the cooling weather, like Trader Joe’s Lobster Bisque with butter, sherry wine and fresh thyme. This premade bisque is “cooked low and slow” to allow all the flavors to come together...

RCMP Responds To Report of Assault, Theft of First Nation Lobsterman 

On Wednesday the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) issued a news release about the investigation of assault and theft that occurred on a wharf in Weymouth North.

The incident happened on August 2. RCMP officers were informed that four people stole a lobster crate that had been filled with lobster on a boat at the Weymouth North wharf. The boat belonged to a lobsterman from the Sipekne’katik First Nation. According to the report, the lobsterman confronted the individuals, who then “dumped the lobster back in the water...

Premium Brands Hits Q2 Revenue Records Amid Lower Lobster Prices; Clearwater Sales Jump

Canadian food manufacturer and distributor Premium Brands Holdings hit a record second-quarter revenue mark of $1.63 billion ($1.21 billion), behind an impressive quarter from its Specialty Foods segment.

“We are pleased to report another quarter of record sales and adjusted EBITDA as we continue to execute our various growth strategies,” said Mr. George Paleologou, President and CEO. “The key driver of our performance was our Specialty Foods group of companies, which generated organic volume growth of...

Dollar General Expands Private Label Brand By Adding Frozen Seafood Items

Dollar General is continuing to evolve and expand. And the latest expansion includes new frozen seafood items through their private label brand, Clover Valley.

“When Dollar General pioneered the ‘dollar store’ format in 1955, few food products were offered,” explained Jackie Li, senior vice president of private brands and global sourcing. “With continual growth and changes to the Company’s business model, our product selection has evolved. Customers shared that they believe in the quality and equity of Clover Valley and were receptive to more innovative products...

PODCAST: Celebrate the Maine Lobster Roll With MLMC's Marianne LaCroix, Maine Restaurant Owner Brian Langley

Lobster lovers won't want to miss this episode of the SeafoodNews Podcast. Hosts Amanda Buckle and Lorin Castiglione are joined by Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative (MLMC) Executive Director Marianne LaCroix and Union River Lobster Pot owner Brian Langley to talk about the MLMC’s latest “Maine Characters” campaign and the special “Celebrate the Maine Lobster Roll.”

This episode of the SeafoodNews Podcast is brought to you by Urner Barry's Data on Demand! Transform your data challenges into valuable business opportunities with real-time commodity...

Cousins Maine Lobster Launching New Food Truck in Portland, Oregon

VIDEO: NL Snow Crab Extension; MLMC's Maine Characters Campaign; Alaska Symphony of Seafood 2024

Join SeafoodNews Managing Editor Amanda Buckle as she highlights three of the most read stories of the week, including the extension of the snow crab season in Newfoundland and Labrador; the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative's Maine Characters campaign; and the call for products for the 2024 Alaska Symphony of Seafood. 

This episode of the SeafoodNews Weekly Video is brought to you by Urner Barry's Data on Demand! Transform your data challenges into valuable business opportunities with real-time commodity market information...

Cousins Maine Lobster Continues to Expand Footprint with Pennsylvania Food Truck

“Shark Tank” alumnus Cousins Maine Lobster announced that it will increase its expansion into Pennsylvania via a new food truck franchise that will operate from Harrisburg to Reading and Bloomsburg.

The new franchise will be led by Cindy and Peter Sztankovits, who joined Cousins back in 2019 with their first food truck based in Trenton, New Jersey and Philadelphia.

Since then, the pair has expanded and operates three trucks throughout Northern New Jersey and Philadelphia to Allentown. The grand opening of the newest...

Congressman Introduces New Bill to Ban Offshore Wind from Key Gulf of Maine Fishing Areas

Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) introduced the Northeast Fisheries Heritage Protection Act, a bill that would ban commercial offshore wind energy development in critical fishing grounds in the Gulf of Maine.

Specifically, the bill would not allow offshore wind in Lobster Management Area 1 (LMA 1) in the Gulf of Maine and initiate a federal study on the environmental review processes of any relevant Federal agencies for offshore wind projects in the Gulf of Maine...

Maine Delegation Urges BOEM to Listen to Maine Fishermen When Considering Offshore Wind

U.S. Senator Susan Collins and Representative Jared Golden, along with Senator Angus King, Representative Chellie Pingree, and Governor Janet Mills, are urging the Biden administration to consider the opinions of Maine’s commercial fishermen as it assesses offshore wind lease proposals.

The delegation wrote a letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) saying that any wind development should avoid critical lobstering areas. The reps urged it to “minimize all potential conflicts” between offshore wind and commercial fishing...

Taco Del Mar Brings Back Lobster Tacos Just In Time For Summer

Run to your nearest Taco Del Mar, because the Mexican fast-casual restaurant has brought back lobster to the menu for the fourth year. 

“We understand that guest demands and cravings shift when the seasons change, and we embrace those changes as opportunities to bring flavor-forward items to our seasonal menu,” said Mike Gieseman, VP of Culinary and Innovation at Taco Del Mar. “With summer quickly approaching, we’re offering our guests what they crave by bringing back the light and refreshing Tropical....

Cousins Maine Lobster Appoints Wendy’s Veteran Angela Coppler As Head of Development

Angela Coppler, formerly of The Wendy’s Company, has joined the team at Cousins Maine Lobster as their new Head of Development. In her new role, Coppler will be responsible for accelerating growth of the company’s food truck and brick and mortar business.

“Angela brings an incredible skill set ranging from real estate to brand strategy, and financial acumen to talent development to our Cousins Maine Lobster system,” said CML co-founder Jim Tselikis. “Her leadership and expertise are critical for us as we are...

Florida Lobster Company, President Sentences for Exporting Falsely Labeled Lobster

Aifa Seafood, a Florida seafood company, and its president, Jiu Fa Chen, 57, of Parkland, were sentenced after pleading guilty to exporting falsely-labeled spiny lobster from Florida to China.

From May through August 2019, Aifa purchased seafood products destined for export to China. In order to meet the demand for spiny lobster, Aifa imported lobster from Haiti to reexport to China. The company reexported 5,900 pounds of lobster and fasely labeled that lobster as “Live Florida Spiny Lobsters, Product of U.S.A...