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Live lobster for export. (Photo: Stock File)
Sweden intends to control live American lobster imports
(UNITED STATES, 8/15/2012)
The Swedish Ministry of Environment has expressed concerns regarding live imported lobsters from North America released in territorial waters. Sweden thus intends to ban unregulated imports and sales of live American lobster mainly coming from the US and Canada, but will make exemptions for importers with a closed system for boiling lobster.
Sweden is now preparing a proposal to the European Commission (EC) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for permission to impose a ban by next summer, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) informed.
Swedish Minister of Environment Lena Ek says she hopes Norway and other neighbouring EU-countries will follow Sweden’s lead.
American lobsters have been found in Swedish waters several times during the past few years and are believed to have been released or escaped from cages in the sea despite a ban that prohibits keeping live lobsters in domestic waters. Swedish authorities fear the risk of new diseases and cross breeding with domestic crustaceans.
On 26 April, the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SwAM) sent a proposal to the Ministry of Environment to ban the entry and import of live American lobster (Homarus americanus) to Sweden for three major reasons:
- The American lobster carries several contagious diseases, two of which means high respective very high mortality in the native European lobster.
- The American lobster’s life condition coincides well with the European lobster. Therefore, it is most likely that both species will compete for food and space.
- There is a risk of hybridization with native European lobster, which may result in negative genetic effects with consequences for Swedish and other European stocks.
The EC is currently developing a proposal for an EU Invasive Species Strategy that might include new import restrictions and include the American lobster as an invasive species.
Individual Member States may not restrict trade and the spreading of invasive alien species based on current regulations for Plant Protection, Animal Health and Welfare and Use of Species in Aquaculture.
Back in 2003, Sweden did succeed in implementing a ban on live freshwater crayfish based on the Species Protection Ordinance, which regulates entry of live freshwater crayfish in Swedish legislation and was approved by the EU Commission.
Swedish lobster importers have welcome the Swedish Government’s call for some kind of exemption or certification to let serious importers who maintain closed systems for boiling of lobsters to continue their operations.
Sweden imports approximately 300 tonnes/year of live American lobster. A possible ban (without exemptions) would limit Swedish consumers to purchasing European lobster, which are much more expensive.
In 2011, Sweden imported 180 tonnes of live American lobster from the US worth USD 2.6 million. The major importers sell about 50 per cent boiled lobster to retailers and 50 per cent live lobster to wholesalers.
By Natalia Real
editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media
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