Feeling left out of the market
Some P.E.I. lobster fishers don’t agree with two-week delay to the start of the season
Islanders would usually be having their first feed of lobster this weekend, as the spring fishery traditionally opens April 30.
This year due to considerations around the coronavirus (COVID-19 strain) pandemic, P.E.I. lobster fishers will be setting traps on May 15 instead.
Beach Point fisher Brayden Handrahan says he was ready to fish April 30 as usual, and he says he’s not alone.
“That’s when everybody gets the most lobster, in the first two weeks, and that’s why everybody wants to go,” he said.
Federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan said her department chose May 15 after fishers in licensed fishing areas (LFAs) 24 and 26a voted on the date.
Ian MacPherson, executive director of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, who coordinated the vote, says it was close, but the majority asked for a delay.
By the time the vote was underway, many felt it was too late for the season to start on time, said MacPherson.
As the decision date approached, Jordan added a “new wrinkle” by including processors into her considerations, he said.
P.E.I. plants are ready to go, but New Brunswick’s factories rely more on temporary foreign workers. With the pandemic limiting movement of people, N.B. processors weren’t sure when they’d be ready to take lobsters.
“As an industry, it has been challenging the last few weeks,” said MacPherson. “These haven’t been easy decisions. That’s why we went to the process of surveys and votes.”
Handrahan, 21, who set his own gear for the first time last
season, noted the LFAs in the minister’s own Nova Scotia riding started on time.
“It’s going to help our economy some,” he said. “Where (Jordan’s) area, the economy is booming now because everybody’s fishing.”
Only a few areas in Nova Scotia waters have a spring start. A DFO spokesperson confirmed Wednesday that no one requested to delay the start in LFAs 31a, 31b or 32.
“With these delays, we are maintaining a shared opening date for lobster fisheries across the Gulf region, helping ensure continued co-operation across the industry,” said Jordan in a statement. “The additional time will enable processing plants to prepare their facilities and workforce for the upcoming season and allow everyone across the industry to put in place the necessary health and safety measures in response to COVID-19.”
That answer doesn’t satisfy Handrahan.
“I don’t think it’s fair, one bit fair.”
MacPherson said it’s been “tough sledding” this year, but that everyone is pulling together.
“We continue to work hard on behalf of our members to make 2020 a viable season, under the very challenging circumstances we have this year,” said MacPherson. “The fishery has been through challenges before, and I’m optimistic that we’ll get through them again.”