Halifax Stanfield International Airport's annual ‘lobster lift’ saw over 170,000 kilos of seafood shipped to Europe during the build up to Christmas and the New Year.

The Emirates Sky Cargo B747 freighter above – operated by TNT Express on December 21 – carried around 70,000kg of shellfish to Brussels, and subsequently on to some of the continent’s top restaurants and dining room tables in Holland, France and Germany.

While three other TNT charters, using a B767, shipped another 100,000kg of Nova Scotia lobster and seafood to Europe during the rest of the month.

The big lift was complimented by bellyhold shipments of lobsters and other seafood on Icelandair B757 flights to Reykjavik.

According to the Lobster Council of Canada, lobster from Atlantic Canada accounts for 55% of the worldwide market. The industry in Canada alone is said to be worth in excess of $1 billion.