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Contested Catch: Lobster, Localism, and Canada's Atlantic Coast, 1870-1970
Contested Lobster and Localism on Canada’s Atlantic Coast, 1870–1970 explores the complex development of the lobster fishery in Canada, focusing on the interplay between the ecology of lobsters, local fishing practices, evolving technologies, changing markets, and the role of the state. Drawing on nearly thirty different archives, this book spans the century from the expansion of the transnational commercial lobster industry and the introduction of government regulations around 1870 to the establishment of the first restricted-access ocean fishery on Canada’s East Coast in the late 1960s.
Suzanne Morton argues that lobster regulation was always about more than just protecting the lobster population – it reflected deeper local, political, and economic forces at play. She examines how the Canadian state, keeping its enforcement budget to a minimum and wanting to avoid electoral reprisals, interacted with local communities, businesses, and political groups to regulate fisheries. While the government and other officials implemented formal regulations and turned to commissions and government science, local fishers operated with informal systems based on tradition, economic interests, and sometimes coercion.
Following the Second World War, with economists playing a prominent role, policy shifted from managing lobster as a sustainable resource to increasing the standard of living for fishermen and their families through rationalized efficiency, ultimately limiting access to who could fish. Even then, the fishery was shaped by both formal government efforts and local, social dynamics.
Suzanne Morton argues that lobster regulation was always about more than just protecting the lobster population – it reflected deeper local, political, and economic forces at play. She examines how the Canadian state, keeping its enforcement budget to a minimum and wanting to avoid electoral reprisals, interacted with local communities, businesses, and political groups to regulate fisheries. While the government and other officials implemented formal regulations and turned to commissions and government science, local fishers operated with informal systems based on tradition, economic interests, and sometimes coercion.
Following the Second World War, with economists playing a prominent role, policy shifted from managing lobster as a sustainable resource to increasing the standard of living for fishermen and their families through rationalized efficiency, ultimately limiting access to who could fish. Even then, the fishery was shaped by both formal government efforts and local, social dynamics.
296 pages, Hardcover
Published November 3, 2025
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March 5, 2026
Suzanne Morton's Contested Catch offers a deeply researched examination of how the lobster fishery developed on Canada's Atlantic coast over a century. Drawing on nearly thirty archives, Morton traces the complex interplay between lobster ecology, local fishing practices, evolving technologies, changing markets, and state regulation from the expansion of the transnational commercial industry around 1870 to the establishment of the first restricted-access ocean fishery in the late 1960s.
The book's central argument is that lobster regulation was never simply about protecting the lobster population. It reflected deeper local, political, and economic forces. Morton examines how the Canadian state, keeping enforcement budgets minimal and avoiding electoral reprisals, interacted with communities, businesses, and political groups. While officials implemented formal regulations and commissioned scientific studies, local fishers operated with informal systems based on tradition, economic interests, and sometimes coercion.
Following the Second World War, policy shifted from managing lobster as a sustainable resource to increasing fishermen's living standards through rationalized efficiency ultimately limiting access to who could fish. Throughout, Morton demonstrates that the fishery was shaped by both formal government efforts and local social dynamics. Essential reading for anyone interested in maritime history, environmental policy, or the complex relationship between communities and the state.
The book's central argument is that lobster regulation was never simply about protecting the lobster population. It reflected deeper local, political, and economic forces. Morton examines how the Canadian state, keeping enforcement budgets minimal and avoiding electoral reprisals, interacted with communities, businesses, and political groups. While officials implemented formal regulations and commissioned scientific studies, local fishers operated with informal systems based on tradition, economic interests, and sometimes coercion.
Following the Second World War, policy shifted from managing lobster as a sustainable resource to increasing fishermen's living standards through rationalized efficiency ultimately limiting access to who could fish. Throughout, Morton demonstrates that the fishery was shaped by both formal government efforts and local social dynamics. Essential reading for anyone interested in maritime history, environmental policy, or the complex relationship between communities and the state.
Displaying 1 of 1 review