EU proposal to ban American lobsters to move forward
PORTLAND, Maine - An arm of the European Union says there’s enough scientific evidence to move forward with a review of Sweden’s request to declare the American lobster an invasive species.
The opinion of the European Union’s Scientific Forum on Invasive Alien Species announced Tuesday sets in motion a broader review of the proposal to ban American lobsters.
Lobstermen in the U.S and Canada stand to lose $200 million in business with EU countries if the ban becomes a reality. They contend a ban is not supported by science.
Sweden set the wheels in motion when it announced it had found 32 American lobsters in the country’s waters earlier this year and that they pose a threat to native crustaceans.
The expanded review won’t be completed until the spring, at the earliest.