History

The Fiordland Lobster Company has its origins in 1987 as fishermen foresaw a struggle to maintain financial viability in the Fiordland Rock Lobster fishery.

The New Zealand Government had introduced a new way of measuring lobster which removed a considerable number of previously legal lobsters from the available catch. Also, a Quota Management System was looming that would further restrain the available catch.

At this time all Fiordland Lobster was tailed, frozen and exported to the USA market. The lobster bodies were discarded as waste.

A partnership was formed between fifteen Fiordland fishermen and Mt. Maunganui Seafoods (a North island seafood processor), who were pioneering live lobster exports from New Zealand, that saw the first exports of Fiordland live lobster into Japan in 1988.

The Fiordland Lobster Company was formed out of this trial partnership in 1989 and continues today as a high quality exporter of this unique Fiordland delicacy in its ultimately freshest form- alive and kicking.

The large reductions in catch experienced by fishermen with the implementation of the new lobster measure and Quota Management System, that was such a burden for the fishermen of 1990, is now a blessing for today’s fishermen, exporters and customers of Fiordland caught lobster.

The lobster fishery has rebuilt dramatically, to where the lobsters are so abundant that catches are now being increased and management measures implemented to assure sustainable levels of catch are maintained.

The Fiordland Lobster Company has continued to lead in lifting the quality of live lobster and other seafood products for global markets.