Tidal Pound (1998)

Lobster supply in Nova Scotia is often inconsistent due to bad weather and harvesting regulations. To address this shortcoming, Alecster Fisheries built an outdoor tidal pound which can hold 50,000lbs of live lobsters for up to 3 months. This normalization of lobster stock allowed them to broaden their market reach while continuing to supply their existing markets, especially during the cold winter months when harvesting slows down.

An outdoor tidal pound is constructed with rocks and dirt to section off a portion of the ocean. A dam, which also acts as a dyke, at the mouth of the pound is used to allow seawater to flow in and out with the tides all while preventing the lobsters inside from escaping into the open ocean. Fresh caught banded lobsters are released in the pound where they are free to roam on the bottom. In water temperatures above 4 degrees Celsius (38 degrees Fahrenheit), they are fed herring mackerel and red fish to ensure they stay healthy and hearty. If temperatures drop below 4 degrees, they enter a state similar to hibernation and stop feeding.