Fishermen tie up over low prices

Some lobster fishermen in eastern New Brunswick tied up their boats and remained onshore Thursday in a protest over the prices they’re getting for lobster.

Fishermen in ports such as PointeSapin and Richibucto remained at the docks, saying landings are down and prices are low.

“Some processors were telling some fishermen that their price was going to be $5 and $5.50 a pound, and last week they found out from those same buyers and processors that their price was going to be far less. You can imagine the frustration of fishermen right now,” said Michel Richard, an organizer with the Maritime Fishermen’s Union. Fishermen say right now they’re being paid about $4.25 per pound for canners and $4.75 per pound for market lobsters. They say it’s a big drop from about $7.50 per pound in the spring.

Richard said fishermen aren’t getting any answers from the processors and buyers about the price drop.

“The fishermen are frustrated because they don’t know exactly where to get that information,” he said.

But Jerry Amirault, president of the Lobster Producers Association of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, said producers are paying what the market can bear.

“At this time the markets are fragile, and we are working with the MFU and the fishermen,” he said.

Amirault said the change in the value of the Canadian dollar has had an impact on exports.

Since late July the value of the U.S. dollar has gone from $1.35 Canadian to $1.25 Canadian, the equivalent of a 7 per cent drop for Canadian exporters selling in U.S. dollars.

The provincial Department of Fisheries issued a statement, saying it is working with the fishermen and the processors.

“The price of lobster is determined by market conditions. There are many components of pricing within the marketplace. They include ... availability of supply, fluctuation in market demand and fluctuation in exchange rates,” the statement reads.