Page 7 - Aruba Today

U.S. NEWS A7
Tuesday 16 February 2016

US Financial Front:

Americans sending less lobster to Canada as processing grows

Lobsters are processed at the Sea Hag Seafood plant in Ten- Maine’s lobster meat pro- some state leaders see million pounds of lobster in
ants Harbor, Maine. America’s lobster industry is sending less of cessing industry barely ex- the possibility of creating a 2013.
its catch to Canada as processing grows in New England, and isted 25 years ago, slowly bigger lobster-processing But leaders in Canada’s
the growth could have widespread ramifications for consumers grew to five companies in sector, the state Senate industry have noticed the
who are demanding more lobster products every year. 2010 and now includes 15 approved a bill in January U.S. growth. Jerry Amirault,
firms that processed about that updates state laws to president of the Lobster
(AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) 20 million pounds of meat permit processing, sales Processors Association of
in 2013. Voters agreed to and transportation of New Brunswick and Nova
help pay for more growth cooked and frozen in-shell Scotia, said he anticipates
through a 2014 referen- lobster parts. more competition be-
dum to dedicate $7 million New England’s processing tween the U.S. and Cana-
in public money to Maine industry remains dwarfed da for lobsters to process.
seafood and lobster pro- by Canada’s. Companies “We believe with the
cessing. in provinces including New growth in the U.S. industry,
In Massachusetts, where Brunswick and Nova Sco- increased demand takes
the lobster industry and tia processed about 150 place,” he said.q

PATRICK WHITTLE ada in 2014, and the 2015
Associated Press figure was less than 67 mil-
SACO, Maine (AP) — lion, federal data show.
America’s lobster industry The trend comes as the
is sending less of its catch lobster catch is booming,
to Canada as processing enabling the growth in pro-
grows in New England, and cessed lobster products.
the growth could have American fishermen set a
widespread ramifications record for lobster catch in
for consumers who are 2012 and nearly topped it
demanding more lobster the following two years.
products every year. More processing plants in
U.S. lobstermen, clustered Maine are providing a way
in the coastal New Eng- for fishermen to sell their
land states, have long sent lobsters locally rather than
a large amount of their export, and Massachusetts
catch to Canada’s Mari- lawmakers might change
time Provinces, laws to allow more pro-
cessing in their state. The
where some two dozen processing growth could
companies process millions ultimately democratize
of pounds of lobster meat the notoriously expensive
every year into everything lobster by making lobster
from vacuum-sealed lob- products more available
ster meat packages to lob- and affordable.
ster pate. The processed “Processors are creating
lobster ends up in products more markets; more mar-
like lobster ravioli and lob- kets create greater oppor-
ster pot pie that are grow- tunity for additional chan-
ing in popularity with con- nels for lobster products to
sumers. be sold,” said Luke Holden,
But the dynamics of the president of Luke’s Lobster
processing industry are and owner of Cape Sea-
slowly changing. America food, a processor in Saco,
exported about 69 million Maine.
pounds of lobster to Can-