Oyster licences increase in value

There’s a possibility landings might be up in the P.E.I. fall oyster fishery this year, but that doesn’t necessarily mean more money in individual fishermen’s pockets suggests P.E.I. Shellfish Association president, Brenda Campbell. Campbell said there seems to be more active fishermen this fall with new people joining and some of them buying up licences which had not been active.

Licences that would sell for around $5,000 two years ago, Campbell said, are selling for $15,000 or higher this fall. She knows of one that sold for $20,000.

That higher price is providing some longtime licence-holders, with the opportunity to exit the fishery.

Campbell said the latest figures she has are from December 2013, which indicate 1,275 oyster licences in P.E.I. That number does not include about two dozen communal licences nor does it include lobster fishermen who are eligible to fish oysters, Campbell said. Prices to fishermen are on par with past years, around $25 to $27 a peck and $100 or a little more per box, Campbell reported. She is expecting more of the licence holders to stay active for longer into the season this year.