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Far below the surface of New Brunswick’s coastal waters lie 60,000 concrete lobster condos that boast an enviable 90% occupancy rate.
They’re part of Homarus Inc.’s ongoing efforts to enhance Atlantic lobster habitat and just one of the research projects being discussed during a two-day science workshop in Moncton, New Brunswick. The workshop is organized by the Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Foundation (ALSF), a non-profit, public/private sector association dedicated to working with lobster stakeholders to ensure a viable and sustainable resource.
ALSF Executive Director Rick Doucet says the foundation emerged out of local needs and global pressures.
In New Brunswick, lobster makes up 42% of the value of our seafood species so a strong lobster industry is vitally important to our coastal communities,” says Doucet. “At the same time we’re looking at global pressures: increasing population, concern for our ecosystems and a growing consumer awareness of seafood products that are fished sustainably.
“To meet market demands, we had to make sustainability a priority and we needed a vehicle to bring together stakeholders and invest in research in this area. That’s where the Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Foundation comes in.”
Doucet says that while historically many of the practices around lobster fishing have made it less prone to the stock depletion crises that other fisheries have experienced, research and innovation can replenish and strengthen stocks further. To that end, the ALSF brings together the traditional knowledge in the lobster industry, recent expertise gained in the aquaculture sector and the top scientific minds in the field.
Since its formation in 2009, the ALSF has funded seven research projects the results of which will be presented at the workshop. For biologist Dr. Mike Chadwick, Chair of the ALSF Science Committee, the investment in science-based solutions takes the discussion of the future of the industry to a new level.
“Typically when lobster industry stakeholders have come together discussions focus on what happens once the lobster leaves the water and heads to market. What the Foundation says is let’s look at the process much earlier; let’s look at lobster development, habitat and issues such as the effect of climate change on sustainability,” says Chadwick. “It moves the discussion to a level that’s science-based and future-focused and ultimately benefits all stakeholders: fishermen, processors, buyers and consumers.”
For the man in charge of the sustainability policies at one of the nation’s largest grocery retailers, this level of commitment is a must in the seafood sector. David Smith, VP of Retail Strategy and Sustainability for Sobey’s Inc., will speak to participants in Moncton.
“Seafood sustainability has ushered in a new era for seafood purchasers. Retailers are needing to be ever more accountable for the products we sell, which means seeking much more knowledge about how those products are harvested. Many of the insights, tools, and resources we need to pursue improved seafood sustainability are not core competencies of seafood buyers,” says Smith. “So we increasingly engage across our supply chains and with numerous stakeholders. We welcome the opportunity to work with partners like the ALSF who are demonstrating commitment and expertise in this area.”
For the Foundation’s Executive Director the promising start for the Foundation is just a hint of things to come.
“This conference will help us learn about the work that’s been done already on lobster enhancement but as importantly it will help us identify the work still to do,” says Doucet. “We’ll have the opportunity not only to discuss what gaps exist in the current research but also what role the ALSF can play going forward – where we should invest, how we should leverage our partnerships and how we reach out to our stakeholders and the public at large.”
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