How do I find live lobster suppliers in my preferred origin?

Choose your origin and share the lobster size, quantity, and delivery country. OpenCommo helps automate your sourcing through its supplier network.

Should I buy live lobster from a harvester, wholesaler, or exporter?

A harvester can supply a specific catch, a wholesaler can consolidate and grade, and an exporter can handle international logistics. Choose the supplier whose services and volume match your order.

What should I include in a live lobster quotation request?

Specify the species, size grade, quantity, packaging, and delivery location. Add your preferred origin, shipment window, and whether you need live or processed forms.

How do I compare wholesale live lobster offers?

Compare the same size grade, packaging, and Incoterms, and confirm the basis of pricing. Also check the holding and shipping methods, as these affect mortality.

How should I assess a live lobster sample?

For live samples, check activity, reaction to touch, and shell condition. For processed samples, cook and evaluate meat yield and flavor, and inspect for spoilage.

How can I check a live lobster supplier before signing a contract?

Check the supplier's license, trade references, and ability to supply the agreed lot. Put the specification, including size grade, delivery terms, payment, and mortality claim process, in the contract.

Live Lobster Suppliers

Find live lobster suppliers for your specification, preferred origin and buying volume.

Live lobster suppliers include harvesters, who catch and hold lobsters, wholesalers who consolidate and ship, and exporters with holding facilities at origin. Choose the route that fits your order: a specific boat's catch, a steady supply of graded lobsters, or a shipment ready for delivery to your destination.

Start by specifying the species, size grade, quantity, and delivery location to narrow down viable suppliers. We can help you through OpenCommo’s network of 70,000+ suppliers across commodities.

Where our suppliers are located

Explore sourcing locations across our live lobster supplier network. Choose your preferred country below to find suppliers for your specification and shipment size.

Explore live lobster suppliers

Find suppliers for your required product form, grade and shipment size. Choose an origin to start your request.

Where would you like to source from?

Supplier	Country	Contact details
GIDN*****	Canada	Email availablePhone available
Piaz*****	United States of America	Email availablePhone available
ICY *****	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland	Email availablePhone available
Seaf*****	Netherlands (Kingdom of the)	Email availablePhone available
Lobs*****	Belgium	Email availablePhone available

What to look for when sourcing live lobster

Product specification

Define your needs clearly because live lobsters are graded by weight and sold by count per unit. The specification must match your market's demand and intended use.

Species & form

Confirm the species, such as American or European lobster, and the traded form, whether in-shell whole lobsters or separated claws or tails.

Size grading

Agree on the weight range and count per box or container, as this drives pricing and market suitability.

Condition parameters

Specify acceptable shell condition, absence of injuries or disease, and claw or leg loss limits, which affect survival and appearance.

Quality acceptance

Live lobsters need to arrive alive and in strong condition, so quality checks should cover both their state at shipment and their performance in your market.

Pre-shipment condition
Agree on acceptable handling, temperature, and an inspection method to check vitality, shell hardness, and absence of defects before loading.
Live arrival threshold
Set a target for successful live arrival after transit and a procedure for documenting any mortalities, including who verifies and claims.
Performance in use
For processed forms like claws, agree on meat yield and sensory quality checks on a cooked sample, and for live lobsters, assess behavior and responsiveness.

Origin requirements

Origin affects seasonality, availability, and logistics, so be precise about where your lobsters come from and how they are handled before shipment.

Fishing area & season

Identify the fishing region and whether the catch is within a legal season, which may affect supply windows and size distribution.

Holding & handling

Ask how long lobsters are held after capture, in what system, and their feeding status, as this affects stress and survival during transport.

Traceability

Request records that link your lot to the vessel, landing date, and any relevant catch documentation, so you can verify legality and origin.

Commercial terms

Live lobster is perishable and logistically sensitive, so pricing and delivery terms must match the holding and transport capabilities of the supplier.

Pricing basis: Confirm whether the quote is per piece, per kilogram, or per box, and whether it is based on a specific size grade or average weights.
Incoterms & delivery: Specify the Incoterms, such as FOB at origin or DAP at your facility, and clarify who arranges and pays for insulated, oxygenated transport.
Order terms: Align the shipment window, minimum and maximum quantities, payment schedule, and validity of the quote, as live product offers change quickly.

Documentation & compliance

Documentation for live lobsters must prove the catch is legal and the shipment meets destination import rules. Align all records with the specific lot.

Shipment documents: Cross-check the packing list, invoice, and any health certificate so the species, quantity, and weights match your purchase.
Catch legality: Ask for evidence of legal fishing, such as landing or catch documentation, and verify the exporter is licensed to trade the species.
Destination rules: For your destination, confirm the import declaration requirements, any border health inspection, and any CITES or other protected-species obligations that apply.

Supplier capability

Live lobster suppliers vary in how much they can hold, grade, and ship. Establish who is responsible for keeping the product alive until it reaches you.

Holding capacity
Ask about the supplier's tank capacity, water quality management, and ability to maintain temperature during necessary transit.
Grading & packing
Confirm who grades the lobsters to your size specification and how they pack them for shipment, including materials and insulation.
Order fit
Check minimum order quantities, typical lead times, and whether the supplier can handle the volume and logistics your order requires.

Live Lobster Supplier Questions

How do I find live lobster suppliers in my preferred origin?: Choose your origin and share the lobster size, quantity, and delivery country. OpenCommo helps automate your sourcing through its supplier network.
Should I buy live lobster from a harvester, wholesaler, or exporter?: A harvester can supply a specific catch, a wholesaler can consolidate and grade, and an exporter can handle international logistics. Choose the supplier whose services and volume match your order.
What should I include in a live lobster quotation request?: Specify the species, size grade, quantity, packaging, and delivery location. Add your preferred origin, shipment window, and whether you need live or processed forms.
How do I compare wholesale live lobster offers?: Compare the same size grade, packaging, and Incoterms, and confirm the basis of pricing. Also check the holding and shipping methods, as these affect mortality.
How should I assess a live lobster sample?: For live samples, check activity, reaction to touch, and shell condition. For processed samples, cook and evaluate meat yield and flavor, and inspect for spoilage.
How can I check a live lobster supplier before signing a contract?: Check the supplier's license, trade references, and ability to supply the agreed lot. Put the specification, including size grade, delivery terms, payment, and mortality claim process, in the contract.