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The Flow of Benefits study aims to provide fishing associations with detailed information about the flow of economic benefits from lobster fleets to their communities and the broader region. This is being done by collecting information from owner-operators of lobster fleets through a voluntary survey that asks for information about their household participation in the fishery, their crew, and fishing expenses such as fuel and bait, among other details that make it possible to estimate the flow of benefits from their fleet to their community.
Despite the economic importance of the industry this type of data is lacking, making it difficult for fishing organizations and policymakers to develop evidence-based programs and support for the harvesting sector, which may be needed during challenging times. Industry has been aware of the lack of data in this area for several years and has been involved in co-constructing the survey with academia through the Future Oceans and Coastal Infrastructures (FOCI) project under the direction of Dr. Paul Foley (Memorial University).
The survey was tested between January and March of 2025 and is now being piloted by CLRN on behalf of fishing organizations. The pilot is taking place between October 2025 and January 2026 in partnership with the following organizations:
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Brazil Rock 33/34 Lobster Association (BRLA)
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Maritime Fishermen’s Union (MFU)
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Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association (PEIFA)
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Gulf Nova Scotia Fleet Planning Board (GNSFPB) member organizations:
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Gulf Nova Scotia Fisherman's Coalition
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Inverness South Fishermen’s Association
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North of Smokey Fishermen’s Association
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Northumberland Fishermen's Association
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Fundy North Fishermen's Association (FNFA)
At this time, the survey is only available through partner organizations and can be completed online or over the phone. For more information, please contact our Social Science Coordinator: Marlene@clrn.ca.