CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — It’s still unclear when P.E.I. lobster fishers on the north shore will begin their season.
Setting day was to have been April 29 but has now been pushed back due to inclement weather on the water.
A spokesperson with the federal government said the decision to delay the opening of the season in Lobster Fishing Area 24 was made following a call early on May 1 with members of the lobster fishing industry, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Gulf Region (DFO) and Environment and Climate Change Canada,
“The decision is based on forecasts for high winds and heavy wave action,” Krista Peterson, communications adviser with Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard for DFO, said in an email to SaltWire.
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Ian MacPherson, executive director of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, said on May 1 that May 4 will be the next day to consider for setting traps, depending on wind and wave action.
“More calls will be held over the next few days before a final decision is made,” MacPherson said in an email to SaltWire. “The maximum number of additional fishing days that can be added to a season is four in LFA 24.”
Lobster fishers from LFA 26A began fishing on April 27 while Area 25 opens in August. MacPherson said the fishers in LFA 26A have not been impacted by weather.
He said daily weather conditions are assessed on a case-by-case basis based on the individual captains.
“We understand a number of boats in 26A did not sail (April 30) in some areas,” MacPherson said.
Dave Stewart is a reporter with SaltWire in Prince Edward Island. He can be reached at dave.stewart@theguardian.pe.ca and on X @DveStewart
