Retailer Costo’s “naked lobster” has belatedly attracted attention for its curious look as the North American summer shellfish season dawns. At the same time, Canada’s lobster scene is swarming with unsold lobster, attracting a price fall.

Regarding Costo’s shelled lobster, it comes in a butter-padded shelled pack with two whole 6.5 oz lobsters at U$39.99. 

The retailer’s ad for the seafood pack uses such words as “hassle-free” and “odorless” to imply ease of preparation.

Some customers are describing the pack as a great bargain given that they do not have to shell it.

The appearance of the shellfish duo however is what has drawn most reaction. For instance, a commentator in a May 16 Tik Tok comment compared the lobsters to an animation from the Futurama program. 

Lobster Prices Down

Meanwhile in Canada, where Costo also sells its “naked lobster,” the late spring lobster season is recording low prices.

At Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, dozens of crates floated with unsold shellfish on May 27 at the bay.

For this reason, fishermen are obtaining as little as C$7 ($5.11) a pound. The rate is below both 2024 and 2023 seasons’ openers of C$8.25 ($6.02) and C$10.42 ($7.61) a pound respectively.

Furthermore, lobster sellers are already missing April 2024 prices in southwest Nova Scotia of C$11-12 ($8.03-8.76) a pound.

For now, fishermen are content with keeping their crustacean catches floating on cold brine water from the ocean before finding customers. 

Southern Nova Scotia has a lengthy lobster season from winter to end May, with the first peak in December. As a whole, Atlantic Canada has its peak season in April through June. 

As the following statistics reveal, much of Canada’s lobster haul lands from the eastern parts on the northern Atlantic.

Canada Lobster Statistics 

Canada produces its lobster in five eastern provinces including Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec and New Foundland and Labrador. The main lobster species is the North American Homarus Americanus type. The hard-shelled species normally attains a weight range of 1 to 9 pounds, a range suitable for export sales. 

Is lobster Canada’s most valued seafood export? 

Yes, Canada’s lobster sales bring more value than other seafood. The export value has been rising steadily from C$1 billion ($729.9 million) in 2011 to C$2.6 billion ($1.898 billion) in 2019. Canada sells lobster to 50 nations in the European Union, Asia and the U.S.  The United States commands over 78% of the exports. 

What is Canada’s rank for prepared or preserved lobster? 

Canada remains the biggest prepared or preserved lobster exporter in the world with exports worth US$351 million (C$480.6 million) in 2022.