ALBERTON, P.E.I. — Friday, May 3 will be the first day of the 2019 spring lobster fishery in Lobster Fishing Areas 24, 26A and 26B.
The season was initially scheduled to open on Monday, April 29, but forecasts of windy conditions on four successive conference calls have delayed the opening until Friday.
Fishermen will be able to leave port at 6 a.m. Friday to start setting gear.
There’s an exception for a section of LFA 26A, from Point Prim to Victoria which traditionally opens one week later than the rest of the district.
The opening date for that area remains at 6 a.m. on May 6 and that opening is still subject to weather conditions.
Lobster Fishing Area 24 takes in Prince Edward Island’s north shore where 600 lobster fishermen are waiting to set their traps.
Area 26A takes in the southeastern part of Northumberland Strait between. P.E.I. and Nova Scotia, stretching from just off East Point to Victoria.
There are about 355 Prince Edward Island boats that fish that zone. LFA 26B takes in Cape Breton’s entire western coast.
In its notice to fish harvesters, DFO advise fish harvesters to exercise caution when navigating in locations where dredging operations are ongoing.
