FFAW Welcomes Positive Lobster Assessment, Calls for Continued Investment in Science

ST. JOHN’S, NL – FFAW-Unifor welcomes the positive outlook from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ (DFO) latest American lobster stock assessment, which confirms that lobster stocks throughout Newfoundland and Labrador show continued growth, recruitment, and overall fishery productivity.

Lobster landings across Newfoundland remain near record highs, with strong recruitment and increasing catch rates. DFO also identified warming ocean conditions as favourable for lobster production, contributing to the positive outlook for the fishery.

“The findings reported in today’s assessment reflect years of conservation work by inshore harvesters that has helped protect and sustain the lobster resource,” says FFAW-Unifor Secretary-Treasurer Sherry Glynn.

“The fishery has been a success, and it looks like it will be a success going forward,” says 3Ps harvester Alfred Fitzpatrick. “And that is on the backs of fishermen, for the work that the harvesters have been doing, looking after this stock.”

Fitzpatrick highlighted the conservation measures undertaken by harvesters over the years, including shortened fishing seasons, trap limits, and v-notching practices that help protect egg-producing females. He emphasized that harvesters have taken an active role in maintaining the sustainability of the resource and that their contributions deserve recognition in the assessment and management process.

“There aren’t always good news stories about the fishery, but this is a great news story for our province,” says 3K harvester Nancy Bowers.

Bowers praised the assessment results and emphasized the importance of continued scientific research and monitoring. She also highlighted the importance of meaningful engagement between DFO and harvesters, including—but certainly not limited to—active discussions during the assessment process.

FFAW-Unifor maintains that continued investment in collaborative research is needed: research that builds from harvesters’ on-the-water knowledge and addresses their questions and concerns.

“Newfoundland lobster harvesters and FFAW at-sea technicians collect a lot of the data used in the lobster assessment. It is important to both acknowledge that work but also to commit to building on that work to help ensure we have the basis for improved stock assessment and management, especially within a rapidly changing marine environment,” says Erin Carruthers, FFAW-Unifor Senior Fisheries Scientist.

FFAW extends its sincere thanks to the lobster harvesters who contributed to the recent lobster assessment: Travis Hutchings, Stacey Wilton, Nancy Bowers, Alfred Fitzpatrick, Jamie Aylward, Kevin Hardy, and Wilbert Crann. We also thank the at-sea fisheries technicians who collect much-needed information on recruitment and lobster biology.

The challenge for all of us, including our DFO collaborative science partners, is to improve upon our existing data to help ensure we have the best monitoring and assessment for the NL lobster fishery, which—of course—means addressing the questions, concerns and observations of NL lobster harvesters.

“This fishery’s success was built by harvesters. Keeping it strong will take continued investment in science and a real role for harvesters in shaping how the stock is monitored, assessed, and managed. FFAW-Unifor will keep working with DFO to make sure harvesters’ knowledge, observations, and concerns are at the centre of that work,” concludes Glynn.