Lobster Life Cycle Assessment

Lobster fisheries contribute significantly to the economic vitality of coastal communities throughout northern New England and Canada’s Atlantic provinces. Although fishing for the same resource, Canadian and U.S. fishermen operate under different management restrictions. Comparing how the management regimes may lead to different environmental impacts will help determine how an efficient, viable fishery may be maintained with the least environmental harm. This project evaluates and compares the environmental impacts and management systems of American lobster fisheries in Maine and Canadian lobster fisheries in Nova Scotia, to determine the most economical and ecologically sound methods for catching lobster.

Publications and Reports:

Published Papers

Driscoll, J. and P. Tyedmers. 2010. Fuel use and greenhouse gas emission implications of fisheries management: the case of the new england atlantic herring fishery. Marine Policy 34(3): 353-359.

Marine Policy paper (subscription needed)

Pelletier, N., P. Tyedmers, et al. 2009. Not All Salmon Are Created Equal: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Global Salmon Farming Systems. Environmental Science & Technology 43(23): 8730-8736.

Environmental Science & Technology paper
October, 2009

Pelletier, N. and P. Tyedmers. 2008. Life Cycle Considerations for Improving Sustainability Assessments in Seafood Awareness Campaigns. Environmental Management 42(5): 918-931.

Environmental Management paper (subscription needed)
May, 2008

Pelletier, N. and P. Tyedmers. 2007. Feeding farmed salmon: Is organic better? Aquaculture 272(1-4): 399-416.

Aquaculture paper (subscription needed)
November, 2007

Pelletier, N. L., N. W. Ayer, et al. 2007. Impact categories for life cycle assessment research of seafood production systems: Review and prospectus. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 12(6): 414-421.

International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment paper (subscription needed)
September, 2007