SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Islanders will have to wait a little longer before they get their first taste of fresh lobster this year.
Lobster fishermen will not be heading out on the water until at least Tuesday after a decision to delay setting day, originally scheduled for today, was made during a conference call between the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association (PEIFA) and Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Saturday morning.
A conference call will be held this morning to determine whether fishermen can hit the water tomorrow to set their lobster traps.
Chris Wall, a fisherman for 25 years, welcomed Saturday’s announcement.
“Nobody’s going to starve if they (fishermen) don’t get out on the water today. The lobsters will still be there in a day or two, and you can’t send people out in unsafe conditions,” said Wall, who is also a member of the Malpeque Harbour Authority.
Even before the delay, it was unlikely that Malpeque fishermen would be on the water today.
Dredging at the harbour, which saw some mussel boats stuck in the channel last summer, was delayed by ice conditions this year, said DFO. Bad weather and a high amount of sand have set dredging back even further behind schedule.
“We can’t get out of the Malpeque Harbour anyway, so an extra day or two might help,” added Wall.
PEIFA president Robert Jenkins said the decision to delay was also made with Cape Breton and Gulf of Nova Scotia fishermen. The PEIFA LFA 24 and 26A lobster advisory committees also held calls with port representatives to get feedback prior to the conference call with DFO.
“There’s going to be another call with DFO on Monday, right now (the delay) is one day,” said Jenkins. “It’s all weather-related.”
While some fishermen were still getting traps and gear ready on the weekends, some harbours saw boats bobbing with little activity.
As the wind howled outside on Saturday Wall questioned, “Is it worth getting killed over a lobster?”
Without pausing, he answered, “I don’t think so.”
Wall, who is adamant to not fish beyond June for lobster, said it’s crucial to conserve the industry.
“An extension of the season has been done in the past and it’s come back to hurt fishers down the road because they’ve taken next year’s breeding stock. The females were pregnant, but the eggs were not showing on the outside.”