Lobster industry faces crisis from climate change and overfishing

The lobster industry faces a looming crisis driven by overfishing, trade wars, and climate change. Scientists predict that warming ocean waters in North America’s primary lobster fishing regions could reduce catches by two-thirds by 2050. In certain areas of the United States, lobster populations have already significantly declined.

The economic impact of these shifts threatens to devastate coastal communities across both Canada and the United States. The industry has historically been marked by intense competition for fishing rights, including conflicts involving Indigenous populations. Unlike previous seafood collapses, there are few alternative large-scale wild species available for fishing crews to transition to, increasing the potential for economic upheaval.