With low catches and low prices for lobster this spring, fisheries minister allan campbell said his department will contract an international seafood information expert to provide a snapshot of the market conditions that exist for Atlantic lobster.

“This will show us what’s going on in the lobster fishery, and how we match up with what’s going on in other provinces,” Mr Campbell said.

Once the study is done, Mr Campbell said the government can then address issues that may be present on PEI, or look at the situation regionally with other provinces. He said the study should be complete in 2-3 weeks.

Government will pay for the consultant but the cost isn’t yet known. Mr Campbell couldn’t release the name of the consultant because the contract hasn’t been signed yet.
Mr Campbell said his staff met with the PEI Fishermen’s Association, and they’re endorsing the work of the consultant.

“The situation – it’s a great concern, 26A has low catches, and 24 has had a slow start, we hope that improves,” Mr Campbell said. “With everything coupled together, fuel, bait, price, and catch, it’s a serious concern.”

Mr Campbell said pushing the federal government for a buyout is on his agenda.
“A buyout has been talked about for a number of years. We continually raise it with the federal government,” he said.

Meanwhile, the word on the wharf isn’t good.
Fishermen on the north side (LFA 24) are reporting catches in the 1 to 2.5 pounds per trap range, with fishermen on the south side (LFA 26A) reporting catches much less than that.
“It’s way less than a pound per trap,” said Kevin Lannigan, who fishes out of Montague. “It’s 100 pounds or less per day.”

Mr Lannigan said if catches don’t get better, fishermen will have to buy plane tickets to head out west.
“The only way it’s going to improve is to take fleets out of the water,” he said.
On the other side of the Strait, Ron MacMaster, of Long Point, Cape Breton, said catches are low there as well.
“We’re getting less than half a pound per trap...the catch is down, the water is cold,” he said.
Mr MacMaster said prices in Nova Scotia are $5.25 for canners and $5.50 for markets.
In Newfoundland, the price started at $4.25, and went up to $4.50 after the first week.
Jason Spingle, staff representative with the Fish Food and Allied Workers union in Corner Brook, said prices have gone up to $4.75 in the past couple of days.

On PEI, most processors are paying $4.50 for canners and $5 for markets, but one processor has been paying $4 and $4.50.
Last year on PEI canners sold for $5.25, markets sold for $6, and catches were slightly higher.
Kenneth MacLeod, who fishes out of Naufrage, said fishermen are way behind where they were at this point in the season other years.

“It’s going to be a tight year for fishermen,” he said. “They basically keep their banker happy.”
Ken Nicolle, of Beach Point, said catches are low and prices are bad.
“It’s a hard thing to survive,” he said.

“If you talk to the businesses, lobster season is tourist season,” Mr Campbell said. “It’s a significant part of the provincial economy. If the fishermen suffer, business suffers, support industries suffer.”
“This year, expenses are so high, the price of bait is through the roof, and the price of lobster is through the floor. Nobody’s going to have much disposable money left over,” Mr MacLeod said.