Tag Archives: Lower catches

P.E.I. lobster fishermen hope higher prices make up for lower catches

lobster-avery-1With prices currently at $6.50 for canners and $7 for markets, P.E.I. lobster fishermen are hoping to ride out a spring of bad weather and lower catches. “Prices have been fairly good, catches are down quite a bit and the weather has been just terrible,” said Craig Avery, president of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, who stayed on shore Monday for the third time this season. “It’s been a tough, tough year. The price, whatever we’re getting for them, it’s well-earned,” he added. About a thousand Island fishermen are currently on the water, including 630 along the North Shore from North Cape to East Point and 340 on the south shore from East Point to Victoria, P.E.I.. Catches are down all along P.E.I.’s North Shore, called Lobster Fishing Area 24, according to what Avery is hearing. He fishes out of Northport, near Alberton, P.E.I., and estimates his catch will be down about 25 per cent from last season. Read the rest here 09:56

P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association: Lower catches and increased demand are driving lobster prices up

10-lobsters1P.E.I. lobster fishermen are getting about $1 more a pound this year than they did at this time last year. They are getting $5 a pound for canners and $5.75 for market lobsters. Craig Avery, president of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, has heard rumours some fishermen are getting as much as $6 a pound for markets. On Wednesday, grocery stores in Charlottetown were selling live market lobsters from between $9 and $11 a pound. Lower catches and increased demand have driven the price up, he said. Much of the demand is coming from Asia and Europe. Avery credits fishermen, processors and government officials for working hard to promote Island lobster. Link 09:35