ALBERTON
Prince Edward Island’s 2017 tuna fishery is down to its final 11 fish.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans reports that, as of Monday, there were 10 tags still remaining for Prince Edward Island’s share of the Canadian allocation, and one tag remaining for Mexican quota which was transferred to the P.E.I. fishery.
Tag-holders have until December 31 to catch their fish, but they might have to sail a distance to get them on the hook.
Doug Fraser, a western P.E.I. representative on the tuna advisory committee said there hasn’t been a tuna landed off North Cape since late last week. With indications that the fish have moved off, some members of the Island fleet have taken their boats, rods and reels to Cape Breton in hopes of landing a tuna.
Since the fishery entered its reallocation phase on Sept 28, there have been 112 tuna landed as part of the Canadian allocation, and their average weight is 290.6 kg. The average weight of the 28 fish caught as part of the Mexican quota is 284.7 kg.
Fraser said the weight of the fish has been increasing as the season progresses. He said the fish tend to fatten up in preparation for their departure to warmer waters. He said there are indications that the prices paid are also increasing in accordance with the increased fat content.
