The Canadian lobster fishery produces the country's most valuable seafood export, worth more than $1 billion annually dollars The industry consists of 10,000 licensed fishermen in Quebec and Atlantic Canada, and employs approximately 35,000 Canadians. The health of the resource and the industry has proven vital to the coastal economy. DFO scientific advice has determined that, overall, lobster populations are healthy and sustainably managed in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, along the Canadian and US coasts from Labrador to New Jersey. these fisheries represent 55% of the world market supply of all lobster species When we talk about a market for American lobster, there is not just one market but many. a hierarchy of markets, in which the sale of live lobster is the ultimate motivation. The market has proven to be supply-driven, in which the price adjusts primarily in response to changes in market supply. With supply being the primary determinant of market prices, timing of supply is vital and the industry has proven to be prone to oversupply and price collapse. The supply of lobster on the market is influenced by the abundance of the stock and fishing regulations. In addition, the catches of a single fisherman depend on the fishing effort, its efficiency and the catchability of the lobster. Due to recent changes in the economic conditions of fishermen and market participants in the face of the financial crisis and the drastic increase in market supply, some have suggested that the industry has demonstrated a lack consideration for the market. Many studies have focused on the harvesting side of the industry, which has been very important in determining the health and sustainability...... middle of paper ...... dian processors, depending on the attractiveness of processing The lobster fishery in Canada is divided into lobster fishing areas (LFAs), each having its own season lasting two to eight months. All but one of these LFAs are active outside of the majority of the U.S. harvest period after molting. Landings from Canadian LFAs create two peaks in market supply, during the month of December and again in May and June. The calendar and length of the season were designed to take into account climatic, biological and economic factors. Due to the timing of the seasons, the majority of Canadian landings are hard-shelled lobsters. These lobsters are caught in relatively deeper and colder waters than those caught in the United States and are considered higher quality. Lobsters are healthier outside of the moulting period and are more suitable for transport and storage..