The latest assessment of this fishery was in 2020 for the US and in 2017 for Canada.
The stock of American lobster in the Northwest Atlantic is in moderate condition.
In fisheries using pots, bycatch is limited, but vulnerable (ETP) species such as North Atlantic right whales, fin whales and sei whales can become entangled in the lines. There is a high level of unwanted catch, but much of it is returned to the sea alive, resulting in low mortality. The impact on the ecosystem and seabed is small.
Management is carried out by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and individual states. Overall, management is considered effective, although there is uncertainty about the long-term effectiveness of some management measures.
MSC-certified American lobster is available from a number of fisheries, and there are FIPs for some Canadian fisheries.