Sound Over Scent: How Livingston Lures’ Lobster Callers Are Reshaping Commercial Fishing
As the 2024–2025 District 34 lobster season came to a close, commercial fishermen were confronted with a hard truth: traditional harvesting methods are becoming increasingly unsustainable. Rising bait costs, fisheries closures, dwindling natural resources, and growing environmental pressures have created serious operational challenges.
Amid these challenges, a quiet revolution is taking shape, driven not by scent, but by sound—and it’s transforming how lobsters and crabs, including Opilio and King Crab, are harvested. Leading this sea change is Livingston Lures, whose innovative Lobster Callers are quickly becoming essential gear aboard commercial vessels from Maine to Tasmania.
“We rely on Livingston’s Lobster Callers to consistently draw in larger males,” says Justin Hindes, captain of The Brian Wave, a commercial vessel operating in District 34. “They’ve increased our catch rates by 20% and drastically cut our reliance on dead bait, which is becoming harder to source and more expensive by the day.”
A New Kind of Attractant
Traditional bait, which relies on scent, is often stripped away by sand fleas (Amphipoda) or other opportunistic scavengers within minutes of reaching the seafloor. Livingston’s Lobster Callers offer a smarter, more efficient solution. Powered by patented EBS™ (Electronic Baitfish Sound) Technology, these devices emit species-specific acoustic signals that mimic the natural underwater communication of crustaceans. These sound waves travel through water at 1,500 feet per second and can broadcast continuously for up to four weeks on a single deployment.
The result? A consistent, far-reaching, and cost-effective attractant that draws lobsters directly into traps—unaffected by bait theft, scent loss, or changing sea conditions.
Proven Performance on the Water
Hindes’s vessel, like many in the region, has used this technology for over six years, with some original units still in operation.
“They take a beating and keep working,” he says. “Whether we’re dropping gear in 30 fathoms or 100, in freezing temperatures or rough seas, the Livingston Callers are virtually indestructible.”
For commercial fishermen, durability is critical. Gear failure costs time, money, and catch, but Livingston’s design delivers both performance and resilience.
Conservation with a Commercial Edge
Beyond increasing catch rates, acoustic attractants offer a significant ecological benefit: reduced reliance on traditional bait. Species like herring and menhaden face pressure from overharvesting and environmental changes. By reducing bait usage, fishermen using Livingston’s Callers support conservation efforts without sacrificing profitability.
“It’s a major advantage,” Hindes notes. “Every dollar counts out here, and the bait savings alone are worthwhile. More importantly, we’re helping protect the future of the fishery.”
A Global Impact
What began as a regional innovation has become a global standard. Livingston’s Callers are now deployed in commercial fisheries across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and even the Bering Sea—home to some of the world’s most lucrative and demanding crustacean harvests.
From lobster boats in Nova Scotia to shrimpers off Chile, this technology helps harvest hundreds of thousands of pounds of seafood while promoting sustainable practices.
The Future of Commercial Fishing Is Sound
Livingston Lures’ VP Erick Arnoldson sums it up: “We’re committed to delivering forward-thinking, conservation-minded solutions for the commercial fishing industry.”
As global commercial fisheries work to balance profitability with sustainability, EBS technology is emerging as a game-changer. With sound that cuts through currents, pressure, and outdated practices, the Livingston Lobster Caller isn’t just catching more crustaceans—it’s catching on.