Lobster pilot project to be expanded

The veil of mystery around a lobster quality pilot project announced 15 months ago will soon be lifted, says Nova Scotia’s fisheries minister.

Keith Colwell said Friday the pilot had been so successful that it’s being expanded to another fishing area.

Colwell has refused to say where the project is taking place, but said a formal announcement on the program will be made sometime within the next few weeks.

Few details are known, other than the pilot involves a regionspecific three cent levy aimed at improving lobster quality for export markets.

“The issue was around some funding that wasn’t available to us that has since changed,’’ said Colwell. “We’re now moving forward and expanding the program. It was very successful.’’

Colwell also said he will announce the formation of a new lobster advisory council, a body composed of a cross-section of interests in the fishery that will give his department advice on policy.

He said it’s part of the province’s effort to boost marketing initiatives, despite unsuccessful attempts to get all fishermen to agree to a province-wide marketing levy.

While he hasn’t given up on the idea, Colwell made it clear there won’t be a levy until fishermen in the province’s largest lobster fishery in southwestern Nova Scotia get on board.

The area accounts for 40 per cent of the country’s total catch.

“The buyers had some interest in doing it before,’’ he said. “I believe that will is still there, but it’s up to them to come to us and decide what they want to do with it.’’

NDP fisheries critic Sterling Belliveau said support has been lagging from fishermen in part because of confusion related to the levy and the lack of details around the pilot project.

“He (Colwell) continues to raise these scenarios and the industry has a lack of information and a lack of support for anything that comes out of the minister’s office,’’ said Belliveau.