The Tristan Lobster (Pictured ©Tristan Lobster) is a coldwater rock lobster, caught around the remote islands of the Tristan da Cunha archipelago. This British Overseas Territory is located 1,500 miles west of Cape Town, South Africa. The species is endemic to Tristan’s four volcanic islands and has been commercially caught since 1947.
These lobsters, which are certified according to Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) sustainability standard, are a firm favourite with consumers in the US, Japanese and Australian markets, despite the annual catch averaging just 400 tonnes.
Andrew James, managing director of the sole fishing company in the Tristan Lobster fishery, said: "We are delighted that the Tristan Lobster will soon start appearing on menus throughout the EU. These are the most exceptional lobsters in every sense and while we could easily supply the entire annual harvest to our current markets, it has long been our ambition to offer our product to the European market. It is no secret that distributors across Europe have chased us for many years to do so. Now that we are finally here, we hope the market appreciates the lobsters’ unique provenance and MSC-certification alongside their superior flavour.”
Because of the remote location of the fishery and to ensure maximum food safety and shelf-life, Tristan Lobsters are only available in frozen formats. For chef convenience, these include: Whole Cooked Frozen (WCF) Lobster, Whole Raw Frozen (WRF) Lobster, Sashimi Grade WRF Lobster, Raw Frozen Lobster Tails and Raw Frozen Lobster Heads.
The market leading freezing method used with all Tristan products ensures customers receive end products of outstanding freshness, in addition to the convenience of stable pricing and year-round availability.
The full product range will be launched into the EU market in November 2014, including its top-selling flagship product, sashimi-grade whole raw frozen lobster.
