Tag Archives: P.E.I. lobster fishermen
‘Unique mix’ gathers to solve lobster bait problem
Following the closure of mackerel and herring fisheries, P.E.I. lobster fishermen have been struggling to find an alternative bait that is affordable. This week in Charlottetown a diverse group of players in the industry came together to discuss solutions. “We’ve brought together government, we’ve brought together buyers, we’ve brought together harvesters,” said Ian MacPherson, executive director of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association. “It’s a unique mix and a lot of different perspectives but some great information coming out of it.” photos, more, >>click to read<< 09:56
DFO says it is considering request from P.E.I. fishermen to change lobster setting dates
The federal government is considering allowing P.E.I. lobster fishermen to start the spring season earlier than normal. Krista Petersen, a spokeswoman with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Gulf Region,,, “Before DFO makes any decisions on requests for season date changes, proposals need to be discussed with all groups who fish in a particular lobster fishing area,’’ Petersen said in an email. “Issues related to safety, weather, ice conditions and harbour dredging will be taken into consideration.’’ >click to read< 10:48
P.E.I. lobster fishermen vote to move up setting day in the spring
“We’re coming off back-to-back seasons here where the season was extended into July,’’ said Mike Dixon, co-chair of LFA26A lobster advisory committee, which represents close to 400 fishmen between Souris and Victoria. “As commercial fishermen, we recognize the resource becomes vulnerable at certain times of the year when the water temperature reaches a certain degree so that puts the lobster into their reproductive stages.’’ This vote was strictly meant to address the issue of not fishing for lobster when the animals are molting. >click to read< 07:58
Season opens May 3 for P.E.I. lobster fishermen
Friday, May 3 will be the first day of the 2019 spring lobster fishery in Lobster Fishing Areas 24, 26A and 26B. The season was initially scheduled to open on Monday, April 29, but forecasts of windy conditions on four successive conference calls have delayed the opening until Friday. Fishermen will be able to leave port at 6 a.m. Friday to start setting gear. There’s an exception for a section of LFA 26A, from Point Prim to Victoria which traditionally opens one week later than the rest of the district. >click to read<13:32
P.E.I. lobster fishermen report up and down fall season
Traps across Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 25 came out of the water Wednesday, Oct. 10, marking the end of a mixed bag of a fall lobster season. On the Summerside waterfront, Merrill Montgomery, captain of the Salty Curls, and his crew spent the morning hauling up traps, loading them onto a truck and getting them set for winter storage. All things considered, he was pleased with how his things went. “Season was great, fantastic. Weather was great, catch was great and price was – pretty good,” he said. >click to read<11:33
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
Right whale rules trap fishermen
The federal government’s decision to extend rules protecting right whales to P.E.I.’s lobster fishermen sent waves of anxiety through the industry last week. The fishermen were reacting not only to the poor timing of the decision — coming just days before the lobster season’s opening on May 1 — but, more urgently, the prospect that their livelihood may dwindle if a right whale is spotted near a fishing vessel. Of course, the reasoning for these federal measures isn’t really at issue — no one is saying right whales shouldn’t be protected. >click to read<09:53
Price plunge: P.E.I. lobster fishermen say they’re losing $2/lb
Some P.E.I. lobster fishermen say they were told Thursday they would get $4.50 a pound for market lobster and $4 a pound for canners — a $2 drop. New Brunswick lobster fisherman received similar news, which led a number of fisherman to tie up their boats in protest. Shelton Barlow fishes lobster out of Howard’s Cove, P.E.I., and when he heard of the lobster pricing Thursday he couldn’t believe it. In his 40 years of fishing, Barlow said, this quick price drop is the worst he’s ever seen. click here to read the story 10:44
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. Lobster fishermen still waiting for prices
Lobster fishermen have been selling their catch on the wharves all week — but they still don’t know what they’re getting paid for them. P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association president Craig Avery told CBC News they would usually know by now, but it looks like fishermen will be waiting another week. “It is frustrating for sure, but we will just have to be patient and wait. I mean, fishermen have been asking, you know, calling the PEIFA office. We have no way of knowing,” said Avery. “They have been calling their buyers but, you know, the price doesn’t seem to be established yet. So until next Friday when we start to get our first statement, we won’t know what we’re getting.” Link 09:32
P.E.I. lobster fishermen begin the penny per pound Lobster Levy for marketing on Saturday
P.E.I. lobster fishermen are the first in Canada to offer money from their catch to help market their product. The one-cent-a-pound levy will begin to be tallied when the first Island lobster is landed on Saturday. The chair of the new 12-member P.E.I. Lobster Marketing Board, Charlie McGeoghegan, says around a dozen proposals with recommendations how to spend the money have been submitted so far. He said those have come from consulting firms, fishing groups and individuals both on and off the Island. McGeoghegan wouldn’t share details, but said some of the ideas have been rejected already but a handful are still on the table. Read the rest here 13:10
P.E.I. Lobster fishermen are going to some extreme lengths to keep the crustaceans cold
Like the rest of P.E.I., the lobster industry, now into its fall season, has had to adjust to this week’s hot, sunny weather. Lobsters suffer in the extreme heat and can die off if they get too warm, so fishermen and buyers have been taking extra measures to keep their catches cool. “Lots of ice,” said Shelby Ellsworth, a Miminegash fisherman. “Ice, and we always measure in the tank. We never leave out lobsters out on the open. Always measure it with ice.” Sandra Gaudet, a buyer with L&S Marketing, says the fishermen are going to some extreme lengths to keep the crustaceans cold. Read the rest here 09:26
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 fishermen tied to dock while Mother’s Day lobster exports drift away
P.E.I. lobster fishermen will lose out on some of the biggest days for lobster sales with the delayed start to the season. Fisheries and Oceans will update fishermen in the Gulf Region on Monday. So far, the earliest lobster fishermen will be able to set traps is Thursday. Traditionally Island fishermen see brisk sales on Mother’s Day. However, it takes two days to ship lobster to off-Island markets. Read the rest here 13:44
P.E.I. lobster fishermen vote to market own product
Lobster fishermen across Prince Edward Island have voted to take the marketing of their product into their own hands. They want to create a lobster commodity board and voted 76 per cent in favour of it. About 650 fishermen were registered to vote. Ian MacPherson, the executive director of the Prince Edward Island’s Fishermen Association, said having their own board would allow them to have more input and be a part of the solution against low prices. Read the rest here 08:50
Lobster marketing board meetings provide ‘good feedback’
P.E.I. lobster fishermen have just a few more days to register to vote in the upcoming lobster marketing board plebiscite. The P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association has been holding information meetings across the province about the marketing board, which will be in charge of collecting a one cent a pound harvester levy that will be used to promote Island lobster. Fishermen have already voted in favour of the levy, but now they have to vote on the marketing board itself. Read the rest here 11:04
P.E.I. lobster fishermen vote in favour of lobster levy – Fishermen’s Association calls it ‘a great day’
“I’m quite excited about it,” said Avery. I’m really excited that fishermen supported marketing initiatives to promote lobster. And I think it’s going to be great. I think it’s a great day for the PEI Fishermen’s Association and the fishermen on PEI.” Read the rest here 12:18
P.E.I. lobster fishermen to vote on marketing board – Vote will coincide with lobster levy vote
P.E.I. lobster fishermen voting next month on whether to introduce a marketing levy on their catches will also vote on whether to create a marketing board. Read the rest here 07:00
P.E.I. lobster fishermen, who started the fall season last weekend, are dreading a replay of a familiar story
While they have been fishing almost a week, processors have not yet announced a price for what they have been collecting at the wharf. Prices in New Brunswick are $ 2.50 a pound for canners and $3.00 a pound for markets, $0.60 less than in that province last fall. more@cbcnews
Frustration boiling with P.E.I. lobster fishermen – Fishermen’s association wants province to reinstate storage program
With just one month left in the lobster season, some fishermen on Prince Edward Island are wondering what they’ll do with their catch. Two weeks ago, some buyers placed quotas on how much lobster they’ll take each day. Now, some are cutting back on the days that they’re buying. In North Rustico, fishermen worry no buyers will come at all on Tuesday. continued
PEI Lobster glut leads to quotas amid low prices – Prices remain low as boats return to the water
Many P.E.I. lobster fishermen face daily quotas on their catches because the processors say they’re being overwhelmed by large catches. The quotas, which started over the weekend, range between 500 to 1,000 pounds per boat. It’s adding to boiling frustrations after low prices sparked protests last week. continued
A Fractured Lobster Fishery in the Canadian Maritimes
Nova Scotia Lobster fishermen return to sea after standoff Lobster fishermen in Nova Scotia will be back on the water at first light on Tuesday, after hundreds tied up their boats to fight for better prices from seafood processors. The protest is over, but the problem of low lobster prices at the wharf persists. The protesters said they’ve made their point and have enlisted the province’s fisheries minister as an ally. continued
P.E.I. lobster fishermen returning to water Some fishermen in Western P.E.I. are calling the protest a failure, because it did not pressure processors to raise prices. West Prince fisherman Scott McNeill still believes it 
was the right thing to do. continued
Lobster fishermen protest over prices ends in New Brunswick Fishermen in New Brunswick’s zone 23 were back on the water again, hauling up traps in the Escuminac and Caraquet areas. Alain-Paul Thériault was among them. They felt they had to go out, he said. continued
