ENSURING THE TOP QUALITY OF P.E.I. LOBSTER
Federal and provincial governments write Island lobster fishermen $2.4-million cheque
Lobster fishermen in P.E.I. are getting $2.4 million to install new storage and handling equipment on their vessels.
Federal Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc was in Pooles Corner for the announcement Thursday morning with federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay, Malpeque MP Wayne Easter, Premier Wade MacLauchlan and provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Robert Henderson.
The federal government and the province are contributing $2.4 million through the Atlantic Fisheries Fund to the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association (PEIFA) to improve the effectiveness, quality and sustainability of the fish and seafood sector. In total, the $4.6 million project with the PEIFA involves infrastructure and equipment investments.
Lobster harvesters will pay half of the cost of the equipment with matching funding by the Atlantic Fisheries Fund, up to a maximum of $3,000 per harvester.
“One of the big challenges we (have) on wharves right across Atlantic Canada is to arrive at the wharf and be able to deliver a high-quality live product that markets expect, that consumers expect, that processors require,’’ LeBlanc said following the news conference. “So, one of the challenges is anything that can improve the quality that arrives at the wharf in the best possible shape means fishermen will get a better price for it.’’
Island fishermen will work with the PEIFA to access funding.
Applications should be available in about two weeks.
As for the types of equipment, LeBlanc said a lot of it centres around tanks on vessels that will hold the product — refrigerated equipment that can bring the lobster back to the wharf in top quality shape.
“Some vessels might look at systems of recycled seawater that continually keeps the product fresh and alive,’’ LeBlanc said, noting that some fishermen may already be using this technology.
“The market will obviously pay top dollar for the highest quality product so anything that ensures consistency in the quality can’t help but ensure they get the best possible price.’’
MacLauchlan noted that a fair share of P.E.I.’s product goes live to markets all over the world.
To get the product to China, for example, involves a 95-hour journey.
“If they land at the wharf in better health, which they will with this investment, that improves the strength of the market, the satisfaction of the customer and the demand for our lobster,’’ the premier said. “The catches are going up, as we know, and we expect that to continue.’’
MacAulay said ensuring the product is of high quality cannot be overstated.
“You talk about whether it’s live lobster or processed lobster, that lobster has to be top quality before it’s processed, it has to be top quality when it’s put on the market, whether it’s in China or wherever that might be around the world,’’ MacAulay said.
“If you’re going to receive the top dollar, you produce the best product, no matter whether you’re talking about meats or fish.’’
LeBlanc said P.E.I. is the first Atlantic province to come to the federal government with this initiative.
“I’m sure the fishermen’s association in New Brunswick are going to read about the investment today in Prince Edward Island. I hope other associations follow the lead . . . there’s no reason to think we can’t look at this in other provinces as well.’’