Tag Archives: P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association
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
P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association is happy the province is seeking to become ‘Canada’s Food Island’
A proposal to brand P.E.I. as “Canada’s Food Island” has the full support of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association. Under the plan, announced recently by Premier Wade MacLauchlan, the province hopes to expand on the Island’s growing reputation as a food destination. The proposal includes an expansion of fresh lobster holding capacity through expansion of existing facilities and the establishment of new ones. Read the rest here 12:59
P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association concerned about Gulf of St. Lawrence oil exploration
The executive director of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association is calling on the federal government to better assess the risks of oil exploration in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Ian MacPherson wants Ottawa to study the potential impact of an oil spill on the seafood industry. Halifax-based Corridor Resources has applied to do exploratory drilling in the Old Harry reserve between the Magdalen Islands and Newfoundland. Read the rest here 10:01
P.E.I. lobster season extended four days
The P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association asked for an extension of the season to make up for the late start, and on Thursday Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea announced a four-day extension. “This four-day extension strikes the right balance between ensuring we protect our precious resource while allowing our fishermen to get more days out fishing,” said Shea in a news release. Read the rest here 05:33
The P.E.I Fishermen’s Association ask’s DFO for response on lobster season extension by Wednesday
The P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association has sent a letter to Fisheries and Oceans Canada asking for a decision on an extension to the spring lobster season no later than next Wednesday, June 24. The season normally closes June 30. The executive director of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association Ian MacPherson said fishermen need to know what will happen. “For a variety of reasons, certainly so people can plan what they need to do to either leave their traps in the water or take them out,” Read the rest here 12:39
P.E.I. lobster fishermen pleased with first catches – Fishermen’s Association confident lobster levy to go ahead
Saturday marks the first day of the year that fresh Island lobster is available for sale on P.E.I. Fishermen along the North Shore started their season yesterday, eight days late, because of ice. Read the rest here 11:01 P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association is optimistic the one cent per pound levy will go ahead as planned. The money will be used for marketing and Island fishermen voted in favour of the levy last fall. Read the rest here 11:04
P.E.I. Lobster fishing opening date still unclear
The earliest Prince Edward Island lobster fishermen will be setting traps for the spring fishery is Monday, May 4, according to the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association. However, Association president Craig Avery says boats on the South shore of the Island may have to wait longer than that because, as Avery told CBC Monday, most of the harbours from East Point to Victoria are still iced in. Read the rest here 11:39
P.E.I. Lobster season opening under discussion
Officials from the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans will be on a conference call with fishermen in the region Monday to update the start of the lobster fishing season. On Thursday DFO decided to delay the April 30 opening of the spring lobster fishery due to ice in many harbours. No new date for the opening was set. That is expected to be discussed on the conference call. Read the rest here 10:35
Lobster industry looks to students for labour shortage
The P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association is in talks with Holland College to design a course for people who want to work on lobster boats. Lobster boat captains are having trouble finding crew. They say many potential workers have moved out west, and others are retiring. Ian MacPherson, executive director of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, said a short Holland College course on lobster boats skills and safety may be particularly appealing to college athletes looking for a job to help them keep in shape. Read the rest here 11:09
P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association has signed a $17-million, three-year deal to sell lobster in China.
Acting association president Craig Avery said 2.5 million pounds (1.1 million kg) of raw, blanched lobster will be exported to Lanesync Supply Chain over three years. Lanesync is just getting into the lobster business, said Avery,, Read the rest here 16:30
P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association: Lobster season opening could be safer
The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans makes the final decision when to go ahead, with input from fishing groups. In this case, the decision to go ahead was made 24 hours in advance. <Read more here> 11:26
Seafood processors, fishermen unite in opposing temporary foreign workers changes
The P.E.I. Seafood Processors Association and the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association have united in calling for a reversal of Ottawa’s sweeping reforms of the temporary foreign worker program — reforms they say will have a devastating impact on the Island’s seafood industry. Read more here 22:15
Season was ‘all over the board,’ says P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association as unsettled spring lobster fishery closes – video
P.E.I.’s spring lobster fishery closed Monday and many fishermen hauled their traps to put another unsettling year behind them.,, Some fishermen say the Island needs more fish processors, while others say holding facilities are needed to keep lobster well after the season closes. “We have an industry that’s all over the board when the season starts,” said McGeoghegan. Read more here 14:52
PEI: Labour shortage cause of lobster quotas, says processor group
You understand the chronic labour shortage our industry is facing. So now that the daily landings have become as large as they are it’s making it difficult to process lobsters throughout the region.” King, who speaks for eight P.E.I. processors, said they could use 400 employees at those plants right now. One plant in particular in the eastern region, is operating at 55 per cent capacity. Read more here 10:06
Lobster catches on P.E.I. down about 40 percent
The president of the 
says lobster catches continue to be down dramatically this spring compared to last year. Mike McGeoghegan blames poor weather and cold water temperatures. “I’d say the catches are down by about forty percent just because of the temperature,” said McGeoghegan. Read more here 14:12
Paper log book requirement questioned by PEI fishermen – Prefered an electronic system
Lobster fishermen on P.E.I. are disappointed monitoring of their catch this year will be on paper, rather than electronic. This year, for the first time, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans is requiring fishermen to record their daily catches. DFO says it’s part of the process of moving towards a sustainable fishery certification. Read more here 07:15
P.E.I. lobster fishermen have eye on Boston, European Union
The future may bode well for lobster prices across Prince Edward Island with a European free trade deal signed but this spring’s prices will hinge on the largest worldwide seafood show this weekend and final talks next month with processors, fishery officials say. Read more here theguardian 23:05
Fishermen on Prince Edward Island are still fuming at last year’s low lobster prices and some want a firm $5 a pound rate set before the spring season begins.
At the annual meeting of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association Friday, there was support for a marketing levy, but continued frustration at prices that dropped as low as $3 a pound last year. “If any seafood processor cannot pay $5 a pound for lobster, they should not get a goddamn lobster,” fisherman Roger O’Neill said. Read more here 16:27
Penny a pound lobster levy gets initial approval – Levy could raise $250,000 for marketing Island lobster
In the test vote, fishermen in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 24, from Tignish to North Lake, gave overwhelming support. “This was just a test zone to identify some opinion,’’ said Mike McGeoghegan, president of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association (PEIFA). “But based on these findings, we are now talking about an Island-wide vote to see what we get.” Read more here The Guardian 12:54
P.E.I. lobstermen seek environmental tax stamp
The P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association is aiming to get Island lobster certified by the Marine Stewardship Council. MSC is an international body that evaluates whether fisheries are sustainable, from the water right through processing. The PEIFA says it has signed a contract to begin the final phase of assessment, along with the Seafood Processors Association of P.E.I. and First Nations groups. more@cbcnews
Terrible lobster season focus of new plan – P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association wants revamp of loan program
With the value of lobster at the wharf under the cost of production, association executive director Ian MacPherson said the season has left fishermen in financial difficulties at the end of the season. continued@cbcnews
Fishermen seek regulation of lobster price
Fishermen will not head out on the water before the price of lobster is set next year, says PEIFA president Mike McGeoghegan. (CBC)
The P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association is looking to Îles de la Madeleine for a model to get higher lobster prices. McGeoghegan thinks he might see a solution in Îles de la Madeleine, the Quebec archipelago sitting in the middle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence north of P.E.I. Prices there are set each week by a local marketing board which looks at how much buyers make when they sell the product to restaurants and retailers. continued
Maritime fishermen remain in port to protest rock-bottom lobster prices – “It’s a dysfunctional system,”
The Tyee – Peter Dowd of the Gulf Nova Scotia Bonafide Fishermen’s Association said fishermen need to be invited to the table to discuss how they can secure a fair price. He says people in some parts of Nova Scotia were hearing that the price would be as high as $6 a pound early in the season and then dropped to about $3. “The protest is about how is it possible that the market has changed so drastically,” he said from Antigonish, where fishermen met again to discuss the way forward. “It doesn’t make sense that to most of the fishermen how the market could fluctuate so much.” continued ![[Tyee]](http://thetyee.cachefly.net/ui/img/ico_fishie.png){kind=small}
Prince Edward Island Lobster price protest could spread
CBCNews – Most P.E.I. lobster fishermen remained tied up today in protest over low lobster prices, and the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association says the protest could spread across the Maritimes. P.E.I.F.A. executive director Ian MacPherson said this morning most fishermen are not on the water. A few sailed out of North Rustico Harbour, Savage Harbour, and a couple of ports in West Prince. continued
Lobster prices come in about $3: government continued P.E.I. fishermen tie up boats in lobster price protest continued
Prince Edward Island Lobster price could be below cost
Prices for P.E.I. lobster at the wharf could come in around $3 a pound, and if that’s the case fishermen should tie up their boats, says P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association executive director Mike McGeoghegan. continued
Three lobster articles from Prince Edward Island
A pilot project next year will study the impact of moving the start of the fall lobster fishery in the Northumberland Strait between P.E.I. and New Brunswick. continued
The P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association is upset about a New Brunswick consultant’s doom-and-gloom comments about this year’s fall lobster fishery. continued
The Progressive Conservatives accused P.E.I.’s fisheries minister of wasting taxpayer money and failing to improve lobster prices during an intense session of the legislature Tuesday. continued
The P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association relaxes rules on entry policy
CBCNews – “It’s frustrating for these guys that come home and find out they can’t buy their father’s fleet, or their grandfather’s fleet, or the guy’s next door, or your uncle’s. I mean you’re a fisherman,” he said. continued
