Norway Lobster

Biology and habitat

Species description
The Norway lobster, also known as Dublin Bay prawn, scampi or langoustine, is the only species in the genus Nephrops.

Geographical distribution and habitat
The Norway lobster lives in the North-Eastern Atlantic ocean, and parts of the Mediterranean Sea.

Resource, exploitation and management

Stock and resource status/conservation measures
Minimum conservation size is established by the carapace length (from 20 to 32 mm) and by the total length (from 37 mm to 105 mm), depending on the fishing area.

Production methods and fishing gears
In the EU, the European lobster is caught by using traps and pots.
The species is exclusively wild-caught, as juvenile mortality rate is very high in aquaculture.

Source: Information system on commercial designations

Catches

Evolution of world catches

• World catches of Norway lobster amounted to 50.869 tonnes in 2023, i.e. 0,05% of the total global catches. The United Kingdom and the EU provide almost all global catches of Norway lobster (98% in 2023). catches.
• Over the last ten years (2014-2023), global catches have fluctuated with a decreasing trend (by 8%).

Source: FAO

Evolution of EU catches

• The EU alone provided 38% of the global catches (19.459 tonnes).
• Ireland and Denmark were the main EU producers with respectively 31% and 25% of EU catches (13% and 9% of the global catches).
• EU catches decreased by 12% between 2014 and 2023, in relation to the decrease of Irish and French catches (-26% and -25% respectively).

Source: FAO

Trade

Combined nomenclature

EU-27 trade of Norway lobster products (2024- tonnes)

Extra-EU trade concerns mainly frozen Norway lobster (61% of EU imports and almost all exports).

• Extra-EU imports reached around 10.700 tonnes in 2024, from which 95% came from the United Kingdom. The main importers were France (83% of the extra-EU imports in 2024), and to a lesser extent Ireland (5%), and Spain (5%).
• Main markets of the EU exports were the United Kingdom, China,accounting for 36%, and 33% of EU exports in 2023, respectively. Main exporters were Ireland and Denmark (75% and 12% of the exports volume).

Source: EUROSTAT-COMEXT

Supply balance

EU supply balance (2023) – Tonnes of live weight equivalent – Norway lobster:

Source: FAO/ EUROSTAT-COMEXT

Supply balance is provided for the year 2023 (trade data for 2023 were taken into account). Detailed trade data provided in the slide 3 concern the year 2024. 
The conversion factors were used to convert net weight of imports and exports of fishery and aquaculture products into live weight equivalents.

Prices along the supply chain (EUR/kg)

First-sale (Live/Fresh)
First-sale prices are provided for Ireland, Denmark, France, and Sweden.

(*) From January to October 2025

Wholesale
Wholesale prices are provided for two wholesale markets located in France and Spain.

(*) From January to October 2025

Retail/consumption
Prices refer to fresh Norway lobster in France.

(*) Latest available year

Extra-EU import (frozen)
Extra-EU imports concern mainly frozen Norway lobster. France, Spain and Ireland were the main importers from extra-EU countries in 2024. 

(*) From January to September 2025

Extra-EU export (frozen)
Extra-EU exports concern mainly frozen Norway lobster. Ireland, Denmark and France were  the main exporters in the EU in 2024.

(*) From January to September 2025

Marketing

National lists of commercial designations

Information system on commercial designations and scientific names in all EU languages

Applicable marketing standards

Consumption

Norway lobster is not among the 15th most consumed species in EU (source: The EU Fish Market – 2025 edition, EUMOFA

Apparent consumption of Norway lobster, per capita in 2023: 0,07 kg live weight equivalent (source: Supply balance – 2023, EUMOFA).

Nutritional value (Norway lobster, North-East Atlantic, cooked, values per 100 g – source : NUTRAQUA/AQUIMER)