Sweden's proposal of banning American lobsters' importation into European Union (EU) countries does not sit well with fishery officials.
The proposal came after Sweden found 32 American lobsters in its waters. According to Sweden, these lobsters are invasive species and are likely to cause diseases and overtake the European lobster population. This is not the first time that American lobsters have been found in European waters, but this is the first time that a ban is proposed.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) assistant administrator Eileen Sobeck sent a letter addressed to EU officials arguing that Sweden's claims do not have scientific basis.
"Our initial findings suggest that these conclusions are not supported by the best available science," Sobeck wrote. She added that considering Sweden's request would violate international trade laws.
NOAA and Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans analyzed the data presented by Sweden and found it lacking of supporting data. The analysis of the Swedish data and a separate paper of Robert Steneck, a scientist from the University of Maine, were included in the letter.
Steneck noted that Sweden's fears of invasion by American lobsters are unfounded. Steneck even said that the temperatures of European waters would prevent the American lobsters from successfully reproducing.
Sweden's report claims that American lobsters have been regularly seen, not only in the waters of Sweden, but also in Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom. Some of the caught lobsters even have eggs that possess traits from both species of American and Swedish lobsters.
"They pose several potential risks for native species, competing for space and resources, they can interbreed with local species and produce hybrid species, which we don't know will be viable or not," said Paul Stebbing from Sweden's Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture science.
Economic Impact
If the EU commission approves the proposal, Canadian and American lobster businesses could be significantly hurt. Exporting lobsters to European countries are worth $200 million annually.
Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection at NOAA deputy director Steven Wilson said that Sweden's motives are questionable, particularly since the number of American lobsters found in its waters totaled to less than 100.
"When it comes down to it, we're looking at a fear of their own fishery being overrun," Wilson said.
In 2015, a lobster fisherman caught an extremely rare, golden-colored lobster off the coast of Scotland.
Photo: Jeff Kubina | Flickr
