Tag Archives: P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association
‘They need to come to the table’, Lennox Island chief rejects PEIFA’s calls for July lobster fishery ban
The P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association is requesting a ban be implemented by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on lobster fishing for part of the summer. The association is supporting the idea of a ban on all lobster fishing in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence during midsummer, mainly July.,,, Chief Darlene Bernard of the Lennox Island First Nation said they have a ceremonial fishery in the month of July for the annual St. Anne’s Sunday celebration and she has no plans to stop it. >click to read< 18:21
P.E.I. fishermen feel unjustified blame in right whale deaths, says PEIFA
Island fishermen feel they’re being blamed in some cases of right whales becoming entangled in fishing gear and dying this year, according to the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association. Several of the eight dead right whales found this year have been entangled in fishing gear. “This year a number of the deaths that were necropsied already show to be due to vessel strikes rather than the entanglement,” >click to read< 19:45
How a small change in scallop gear could make a big difference on P.E.I.
Some Island scallop harvesters are adjusting the way they do their work this year, in the hopes that it’ll help make the fishery more sustainable. The idea is that by increasing the size of the holes, or rings, in the trawler used to fish scallops, only larger ones will be caught, leaving younger ones to grow and multiply. With this in mind, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has changed the minimum ring size for one of the scallop fishing areas surrounding Prince Edward Island, Zone 22.,It was aboard Island scallop harvester Richard Gallant’s boat that this research took place last spring — with assistance from the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association. Gallant has been harvesting scallops for more than two decades, and said he’s been advocating for changes like these for a while.,, >click to read<14:11
New Brunswick fish-packing plant fire could affect P.E.I. fishery
Officials in the Island fishing industry are monitoring the fallout from a fire that destroyed a fish-packing plant in Cap-Pelé, N.B. The impacts will definitely be felt more so in New Brunswick, officials with the P.E.I. Department of Agriculture and Fisheries said. “We have a small number of lobster buyers who sell their lobsters purchased in P.E.I. to this processor.,,, The Cape Bald Packers fish-packing plant in Cap-Pelé was destroyed by fire this past Sunday. The plant employed about 500 people, no one was injured in the fire. >click to read<19:56
P.E.I. Lobster fishermen confused and frustrated over prices
Lobster fishermen are expressing frustration with prices for their catch at the wharf this spring being about the same as they were 16 years ago. “The harvesters of Prince Edward Island are experiencing a season that is both confusing and frustrating,” the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association said in a news release issued early Friday morning. With the spring season coming up to the midway mark, the PEIFA says prices at the wharf in 2018 are comparable to what was being paid in 2002. >click to read<09:03
Lobster fishermen are putting canopies over the formerly open deck
Some lobster fishing boats are sporting a new look this year. Fishermen are installing canopies over the formerly open deck behind the wheel house. It’s all about keeping the catch fresher — and tastier. “For lobster quality,” said Lyman Getman, a fisherman in Tignish, P.E.I. “Keep the sun off them. Keep them cool.” The removable tops are becoming an increasingly common sight in Tignish and at other ports around the Island. >click to read<18:47
New safety gear needed for P.E.I. lobster fishermen, but supply comes up short
P.E.I. lobster fishermen will have some new safety gear on board when the spring lobster season opens at the end of April. At least, they are supposed to, after new federal safety rules came into effect last July. But the new fishery safety standards affect more than 22,000 Canadian boats and that has left many fishermen scrambling to get the gear they need. Under the new Transport Canada regulations unveiled in 2016, fishing vessels are required to have specific safety gear on board, including a life raft, survival suits and a location signaling device. >click to read< 18:10
P.E.I. Lobster fishery reduces floating rope in hopes of protecting North Atlantic right whales
Lobster fishers on P.E.I. are taking new measures this season to help protect the endangered North Atlantic right whales from entanglement. In January, Fisheries and Oceans Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced changes to the snow crab fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence to protect the right whales, including reducing the amount of rope floating on the surface and mandatory reporting of all lost gear. Fishermen are also required to report any sightings of the endangered whales. >click to read<13:46
Pro-Active – P.E.I. snow crab industry figuring out how to protect endangered whales
Fisheries experts are on a tight timeline to figure out changes to the snow crab fishery to protect endangered right whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence before the 2018 seasons starts. The season opens in April — including 35 Island fishermen landing about $14 million dollars worth for the Island. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) wants feedback from fishing groups in the next two to three weeks. Industry and DFO officials met in Moncton Wednesday to discuss possible solutions. One of the ideas was starting fishing earlier so fishermen could possibly reach their quota before whales arrive. click here to read the story 19:17
Ian MacPherson navigates waters of lobster industry
Ian MacPherson, executive director of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, admits he has no commercial fishing background. But he is still an important voice advocating for the association’s membership with the help of 1,300 experts at his disposal. Originally from Toronto, MacPherson joined the organization in 2010 after working in the transportation industry in Alberta and New Brunswick. According to Statistics Canada, the industry contributed about $73 million in 2016 to the Island’s GDP. To date, there is an estimated 1280 fishing licences held on the Island valued at $800,000 to $1 million per license, explained MacPherson. click here to read the story 08:53
Fisheries and Oceans Canada has granted an extension to the halibut fishing season for the first time.
The move was made to allow Island fisherman an opportunity to fill their quota for the year. As of the end of last week, the 330 registered fishermen on P.E.I. had only caught half of the allowed number. Bobby Jenkins, president of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, said catches haven’t been what they were. Fisheries and Oceans is allowing fishermen two more days next week and another two the following week, and then the P.E.I.F.A. will reassess. click here to read the story 09:53
It’s time for P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association to grow up
‘Will fishermen assume their traditional role of bitching and complaining, and doing little else?’ General speaking, lobster fishermen fishing the spring season on the Island had a “pretty good year.” While catches were down from last year in some harbours on the north side and on the south-east coast, prices ranging from $6.50 to $8 a pound made up for it. There wouldn’t be many boats that grossed less than $100,000 and there’d be a good many that grossed well over $200,000.,, Recently the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) decided to gradually increase the minimum legal size for lobsters caught in District 25. Scientific and anecdotal evidence suggests that following an increase in the carapace size, catch sizes also increase. There seems to be general acceptance of this change. However, no one was surprised when PEIFA opposed the measure. Read the story here 12:00
P.E.I. – Only five tuna have been landed so far this season
Michael McInnis’s tuna season is over before most members of the Island’s fleet even toss a baited hook over the sides of their boats. The Island’s fleet has landed only five of the big fish since the season opened Aug. 1, and McInnis has one of them. “I was just about to take in the hooks and call it a day when it struck,” he said. The fish gave him a 45-minute fight before he was able to bring it alongside his boat. Doug Fraser, a member of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association’s tuna advisory committee, said there have been three good-sized fish landed in western P.E.I. over the past week and two smaller ones in eastern P.E.I. prior to that. “As we move into September, the next four or five weeks, it really ramps up pretty quickly.” Read the story here 14:49
An optimistic outlook for fall lobster fishery in LFA 25
The president of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association thinks the way the spring lobster fishery finished off bodes well for the fall fishery which is due to open Aug. 9. “There is really heavy, heavy demand,” Craig Avery noted. Avery, who fishes spring lobster out of Northport, saw prices start off at $5.25 and $5.75 a pound for canners and markets respectively. By the end of the season he was getting $7.75 across the board while some buyers to the eastern end of the province were paying $8.00 a pound for canners and $8.25 a pound for markets. “I don’t see any reason why the price shouldn’t stay the same as where it finished this spring,” Avery commented. He pointed out the Lobster Fishing Area 25 is pretty well “the only show in Canada,” when it comes to fall lobster. Read the story here 20:09
P.E.I. lobster fishermen being polled about season extension beyond June 30th closure
Island lobster fishermen are being asked if they want an extension of the spring season. In most parts of the Island, the season is scheduled to end on June 30th, but low catches in some areas and stormy weather have prompted a discussion around adding more fishing days into July. “It’s very preliminary at this point. We’re doing a canvas amongst our harvester organizations to see if there’s interest for us to proceed,” explained Ian MacPherson, executive director of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association. “It won’t be something we proceed with unless there’s quite a bit of significant support.” A spokesperson for DFO Gulf Region says the department has not received any request from P.E.I. for an extension to the spring lobster season but says there was no delay in the opening so “no circumstances which would warrant an extension of the season”. Read the rest here 09:11
P.E.I. lobster fishermen hope higher prices make up for lower catches
With 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 are not happy with the lobster size increase
A decision to increase the lobster carapace size for Lobster Fishing Area 25 has upset the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans issued a notice to fishermen Friday informing them of the change. PEIFA executive director Ian MacPherson said he doesn’t believe the science supports a carapace increase. “Island fishermen just can’t see the value in having less choice for the consumer and having more lobster competing in certain size categories for price,” said MacPherson. “Half of the plants on Prince Edward Island rely on the smaller lobster as a large part of their marketing efforts. They have been marketing to different parts of the world that want that smaller lobster so, you know, this is a real disappointment.” Read the rest here 09:03
P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association: Lower catches and increased demand are driving lobster prices up
P.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
PEIFA president is optimistic, sees signs of higher prices
The president of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association is chomping at the bit to get the 2016 spring lobster fishery underway next weekend and he’s optimistic of higher prices. “Prices are tremendously high, over $8.00 a pound over in Nova Scotia right now,” Craig Avery said Friday. Avery, who will be setting out of Northport Harbour in Lobster Fishing Area 24 on April 30, estimated the starting price for a lobster fishery that got underway in Nova Scotia on April 19 to be between $2.00 and $2.50 a pound higher than what they got starting out in years past. “There’s a lot of optimism out there and we’re hoping, definitely, for a higher price than last year, for sure,” Avery commented. Read the rest here 14:47
P.E.I. fishermen have concerns about some proposed safety requirements
The P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association has concerns about some of Transport Canada’s proposed changes to safety requirements for commercial fishing vessels. Transport Canada says these changes are designed to help prevent accidents and loss of life. It notes 58 per cent of the fatalities are caused by stability-related accidents and 27 per cent are caused by falling overboard. The proposed changes include new safety equipment requirements, introducing safe operating procedures for crews, and requiring stability assessments for some existing and all new fishing vessels. Read the rest here 08:56
Prince Edward Island fishermen want dedicated cabinet minister
A dedicated minister and department of fisheries should be created to tackle the issues and challenges facing the second most important primary industry in the province, say Island fishermen. The call for separating the provincial Department of Agriculture and Fisheries was delivered during the annual meeting of the Friday in the P.E.I Convention Centre in Charlottetown. “We definitely need our own minister because things move too fast in this industry and there are too many issues to deal with for a department that has two portfolios,” said president Craig Avery. “We have no problem with the current minister or deputy who are great people, but we need our own.” Read the rest here 10:17
P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association seeks better prices, more quotas
Better prices and increased quotas were a few of the topics discussed at the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association annual general meeting. The two day meeting held in Charlottetown featured speakers on seafood marketing, ongoing tuna and halibut research, and a report on lobster prices. “Fishermen expect a better price due to the low Canadian dollar this year, that always helps us, but it’s about supply and demand, hopefully looking forward to this spring for more money than we got last year,” said Bobby Jenkins, PEIFA vice president. Jenkins said increasing quotas remains a priority for this year. Read the rest here 09:52
P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association launching crew member recruitment campaign
The P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association is launching a new campaign and training program to combat a growing problem in the lobster industry — fishermen are having trouble finding enough crew members. The association conducted a survey of 250 captains that showed many respondents were struggling to recruit crew members. Fishermen describe the problem as a perfect storm: they are getting older, the catches are up, and they need two crew members to help handle the load. But finding them is now harder. The survey showed: Read the article here 08:42
P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association asking for separate deputy minister
The P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association is asking the province to appoint a separate deputy minister of fisheries. Association President Craig Avery says the association took a wait-and-see approach when Premier Wade MacLauchlan combined the agriculture and fisheries portfolio following last May’s election. However, Avery — a veteran fisher himself — says the industry is now convinced something needs to change. Read the rest here 08:01
P.E.I. lobster levy will launch this spring
When the lobster fishery begins this spring, P.E.I. will become the first province in the region where a two-cent-per-pound levy will be collected. The levy will take one cent per pound from P.E.I. fishermen for lobster they bring in and another cent per pound from the buyers. The money will be used for marketing. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are expected to launch their own levies in 2017. A lobster marketing board — comprised of six executives from the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association (PEIFA) and six lobster fishermen — has been established to decide how to spend the harvesters’ half of the money. Read the story here 08:06
P.E.I. fishing industry wants more temporary foreign workers to fill vacant processing jobs
The P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association wants changes made to the temporary foreign workers program to allow seafood processing plants to hire more workers. Executive Director Ian MacPherson said there needs to be enough workers to process the catch from the lobster season that is only a few months away. PEIFA is asking the federal government to loosen up the restrictions brought in by the previous government. Those restrictions limit the number of foreign workers entering the country. Read the article here 09:28
P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association – Hunter Tootoo a good choice for federal fisheries minister
The head of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association is pleased with the appointment of Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo as the new
minister. Up until her defeat last month, Island fishermen had local Egmont MP Gail Shea as their minister. While there were many benefits to that, association executive director Ian MacPherson said Island fishermen are looking forward to a fresh take on the fishery from Tootoo. Read the rest here 09:41
The Master Lobster brand – “Every lobster fishermen in Prince Edward Island is part of this brand”
The first shipment of P.E.I.-brand processed lobster products from the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association has left the Island. The blanched frozen lobster was shipped from Royal Star Foods in Tignish Tuesday, about a year and a half after the association began working on the Master Lobster brand, which the PEIFA hopes will distinguish P.E.I. product from the competition. “Fishermen decided that we want to be a part of marketing and promotion, [to] create competition in the marketplace,” said president Craig Avery. Read the rest here 08:08
Possible World Record breaker for longest lobster roll at the P.E.I. Shellfish Festival
At 79-feet and one-inch long, organizers felt the sandwich was big enough to earn the Guinness world record. The sandwich was prepared by Charlottetown chef Ross Munro, Food Network Canada chef Lynn Crawford and Indiana chef Matt Nolot. “Partying, shucking and shellfish. It’s great,” said Munro after the record attempt. “I’m very happy, it’s always fun to bring something different to the Island.” The roll also was made with 75 pounds of lobster donated by the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, as well as 20 litres of mayonnaise, 24 lemons and five pounds of red onion. Read the rest here
UPEI leads three-year study on impact of pesticide run-off
The University of Prince Edward Island is taking the lead on a team of researchers examining the potential impact of agricultural pesticide run-off on lobsters in the Northumberland Strait. The three-year study is funded by a Strategic Partnership Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and brings together partners from UPEI, the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association (PEIFA) and Homarus Inc. — a non-profit organization managed by the Maritime Fishermen’s Union. “The lobster populations in the Northumberland Strait have been collapsed for quite a number of years and no amount of fisheries measures seem,,, Read the rest here 11:29
