SeaChoice “Best Choice” Seafood Profile

Chedabucto Bay Trap-caught Shrimp: A Delicious Deal

This profile was written by SeaChoice Atlantic Coordinator Sadie Beaton.

An un-named seafood chain restaurant offers an “Endless Shrimp” deal for only $15.99, all year round. This is false advertising, though, because we know that shrimps are not an unlimited resource. Truly, if you care about ocean conservation and sustainable fisheries, you may want to reconsider your next visit to the all-you-can-eat shrimp buffet.

Often, the shrimp you see on all-you-can-eat menus has been grown in intensive operations in Asia. Mangrove deforestation and pollution places these shellfish squarely in the SeaChoice “Avoid” category. Other times, the shrimp may have been caught with an otter trawl, which is a fishery of “Some Concern”, as the trawl disrupts bottom habitats, uprooting ancient slow-growing corals and sponges. Bycatch is also a concern, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico, where far more unwanted fish are brought up in the trawl (and discarded) than shrimp.

Luckily though, in Canso, Nova Scotia, juicy shrimp are being caught sustainably in traps. These shrimpers use baited mesh traps similar to the lobster fishery, with catches occuring between September and April. This method of fishing catches a larger shrimp, which is landed live, and delivered fresh to select Nova Scotian restaurants and retailers. Chedabucto Bay trap-caught shrimp are a SeaChoice “Best Choice” option, based on five sustainability criteria: inherent vulnerability to fishing pressure; status of wild stocks; nature and extent of discarded bycatch; effect of fishing practices on habitats and ecosystems; and effectiveness of the management regime.

In 1688, Louis the 14th declared that, “Canso is by all accounts the best and most convenient fishery in any part of the King’s dominion.” Located off the eastern tip of Nova Scotia’s mainland, the town of Canso is proud of its rich fishing heritage. Since the Atlantic groundfish collapse of 1990s, however, Canso has struggled with significant out-migration and unemployment, and most recently, its very status as a town. In the face of these challenges, the town has fought back with a “can so!” attitude, exploring new ways to create and maintain sustainable livelihoods.

This new shrimp-trap fishery is an exciting opportunity, both for the town of Canso and for lovers of sustainable seafood. Currently, nine trap-shrimpers fish from the town wharf. In past years, their catch was mixed in with trawled shrimp before marketing, even though their trap shrimps are larger, fresher, and sustainably caught. However, with growing demand from chefs, retailers and consumers, a niche market is rapidly developing for this quality product.

Next time you head out for a restaurant feast, ask your server about the shrimp on the menu. Making sure that the seafood on your dinner plate contributes to local livelihoods in sustainable fisheries is a delicious way to assure access to your favourite shellfish in years to come. Chedabucto Bay trap-caught shrimp may not appear at all-you can-eat buffets, but it is one of the closest things you will find to ‘endless shrimp,’ available on selected Nova Scotia menus this fall and winter.

For more information about how you or your business can get involved with SeaChoice, please contact info@seachoice.org