Tag Archives: PEI Fishermen’s Association

Southside fishers hope first haul bodes well for season

Monday’s first haul of the lobster season for south side fishers brought calm conditions on the water, with preliminary prices ranging anywhere from $7.50 to $8 a pound for canners and $8.25 to $9 for markets. Harvesters in Lobster Fishing Area 26A set their traps on Saturday after the season was delayed by a day. Setting day for the north side, LFA 24, was initially on Monday but was delayed by at least two days. DFO had a call on Tuesday but the weather was still uncertain. PEI Fishermen’s Association president Bobby Jenkins, who sails out of Annandale, said catches on Monday seemed to be on par with 2023 or maybe a little better, depending on the harbour. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:02

Impact of bait closure heightens

The Atlantic spring herring fishery will not reopen this year, and while no decision has been made on mackerel yet, the stock remains deep in the critical zone.  When the closure was announced in 2022, fishers already had bait stored up from the previous year. This year they expect to feel the full effects with the higher cost of sourcing alternatives. Allen Fay, a former bait fisherman out of North Lake who now fishes lobster, tuna and halibut, says the bait bill could double. It will be especially hard on younger fishers just getting into the industry who are already paying a lot for gear. Like many fishers, as well as the PEI Fishermen’s Association, he feels the closure doesn’t make sense because Americans will continue to fish the same mackerel stocks. >click to read< 11:53

Immediate closure of herring and mackerel fisheries a broadside into coastal fishing communities

The Coalition of Atlantic and Québec fishing organizations questions the rapidity of the government decision and the lack of transparency in the science.  “How do you go from a no closure to a closure situation without consulting commercial fishers,” said Martin Mallet, MFU Executive Director. “The 2021 stock assessment showed that the 4000t quota would enable recovery of the resource. This decision had been taken in collaboration with industry, and we were to revise the situation after the next stock assessment in 2023. Without consultation or even advance notice of a potential problem, DFO has slammed the commercial fishery.” This unilateral closure of the spring herring and mackerel commercial fisheries will have a major negative impact on the fishery since these fish are a significant source of bait for the lobster and snow crab fisheries. >click to read< 09:16

Prince Edward Island lobstermen struggle through uncertain 2020 season

The fishing industry has certainly hit rough waters in the past, but the 2020 season was like few had ever seen,,, There is little doubt pandemic woes played a partial role in the fact lobster catches were down approximately 8.6 per cent compared to 2019, which was a record year. As Charlie McGeoghegan, chair of the PEI Lobster Marketing Board, puts it, much of the reason for that decrease was due to the fact the spring season was delayed two weeks. Fish plants had issues with getting out-of-province workers in due to border restrictions and self-isolation policies. >click to read< 09:55

PEI fishermen to integrate ‘weak rope’ in 2023

Gear adjustments regarding the North Atlantic Right Whale for the 2021 fishing season are consistent with last year. Rope markings on fishing gear, first implemented in 2020, are designed to help pinpoint where right whale entanglements in gear take place. The fact there haven’t been any entanglements since the marking became mandatory is positive, Melanie Giffin, Program Planner with the PEI Fishermen’s Association, said. “It is kind of a good news story that we don’t know if they are working or not,” she said. According to Barre Campbell, DFO Media relations, there were no North Atlantic Right Whale entanglements or deaths reported in Canadian waters in 2020. However, there is a plan to follow,,, >click to read< 23:08

P.E.I sets the Lobster Roll World Record at 120 feet and 120 pounds of lobster meat!

It took 120 pounds of lobster meat, 13 kilograms of dough and about 180 volunteers, but P.E.I. is now the record holder of the world’s largest lobster roll. The exact length: 36.5 metres. That’s 120 feet long — longer than the length of a basketball court. Take that, New Brunswick. “They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, I think it takes more than that to build a lobster roll,” said Melanie Giffin of the PEI Fishermen’s Association. “With the amount of work that went into it, there was no way we could let it fail.” The bun for the lobster roll was baked in a conveyor oven at the Culinary Institute of Canada from dough donated by the Water Street Bakery and Deli in Summerside. About 60 fishermen and their wives — accompanied by a police escort — paraded the massive roll 1.7 kilometres to the PEI International Shellfish Festival at the Charlottetown Event Grounds. Read the rest here 09:37

Changes coming to Maritime Lobster Fishery

863a4ac9dc_64635696_o2Two reports recommend the establishment of a shore price before the lobster season starts. more@troymedia 12:14

PEI Fishermen’s Association taking major steps at self promotion campaign called “Taste Wild PEI Lobster Campaign.”

As they await the work of a region-wide panel studying low prices in the lobster industry, the PEI Fishermen’s Association is mounting an aggressive campaign to sell the merits of Island lobster to consumers both at home and around the world. more@sou’wester 14:01

PEI lobster fishermen keep fingers crossed for good prices

THE SOU’WESTER – As they headed out on the water to set their traps in preparation for the first haul of the season, PEI lobster fishermen were optimistic this would be the year when prices began to turn around. Like most of their counterparts on the eastern seaboard, fishermen in the Cradle of Confederation have been dealing with low prices for the past several seasons. With prices for fuel and bait continuing to rise, the president of the PEI Fishermen’s Association said fishermen need higher prices to stay in the water. continued

The PEI Fishermen’s Association Snow crab registration

The PEI Fishermen’s Association will be holding a Registration and Draw for independent core fishers wishing to participate in the Snow Crab Fishery for 2013. Registration will be held at the following locations: continued

Scientists fear Canada will fish bluefin tuna and other species to extinction

03BlueFinCoronado-BFT1Top marine scientists are denouncing Canada’s management of fish stocks as a commercially driven approach threatening to wipe out species at risk. Read more