Lobster catch weak in strait
06.05.2008 20:00
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- Source: cbc.ca
The lobster fishery along P.E.I.'s Northumberland Strait is off to another slow start this year.  Fisherman Terry Carter is not yet ready to panic about poor lobster catches.(CBC)The season started Friday for the North Shore and the eastern part of the Northumberland Strait. There are reports of some good catches on the North Shore, but fishermen on the strait are finding the season is off to a slow start. Brian MacPhee hauled 300 traps Monday and didn't quite fill two trays for his efforts. "Not a whole lot. Probably 130 pounds or so," MacPhee told CBC News. "That's what we've been getting. It's started off pretty slow." Many fishermen in Souris said they're they're getting 250 grams or less per trap, as opposed to 1.5 kilograms in North Rustico. It's the second year in a row they've had such a slow start. Francis MacPhee, who has fished lobster for 46 years, said there are lots of theories but no hard answers about the poor catch. "Some people say it's the water temperature. Some more people say it's pollution. I don't know," he said. Local lobster processors are already running and hungry for product. The Ocean Choice plant in Souris is trucking in lobster from Newfoundland until the supply from P.E.I. improves. But several fishermen in Souris said they believe catches will improve as the water warms up, since that's what happened last year. "Everybody says it's cold water, but they're not crawling around anyway now," fisherman Terry Carter said. "It was about three weeks before we saw any amount of fish [last year]. No panic yet." Apart from whether they will see more lobster in their traps, fishermen are still facing the unknown of how much payment they'll get. Dockside buyers haven't yet announced what they'll pay this year. Fishermen expect to know later this week. Top prices in Nova Scotia so far this year are $11 a kilogram. Post a commentPeople have commented on this storyRecommend this storyPeople have recommended this storyStory Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKStory comments (0)Sort:Most recent | First to last | Most recommendedPost your commentNote: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are pre-moderated/reviewed and published according to our submission guidelines. Comment:Characters allowed: 2500PostSubmission policyConsumer HeadlinesOttawa overcharging on passport fees: auditor general00The Canadian government charges a fee in the price of applying for an adult passport that could be declared illegal and may have to be refunded, the auditor general's report has found.Employees pumped over rising gas price, but in a bad way: study 00A preoccupation with the rising price of gas is spilling over into the workplace, leaving employees distracted and tense, a new U.S. study suggests.Indigo and Chapters withdraw 10,000 Mother's Day tote bags00Indigo and Chapters are recalling about 10,000 tote bags because they may cause skin irritation.Rogers rolls out cellphone-home phone hybrid00Rogers is introducing phones that function as a regular cellphone outside the home, but also connect to the internet through Wi-Fi when in range of the customer's home router, offering unlimited calling. McGuinty admits he bumbled on Ontario pesticide ban00Premier Dalton McGuinty says he erred when he said municipalities could have tougher anti-pesticide rules than the province. Consumer Life FeaturesYOUR SAYRising food costsEnergyGas pricesTECHNOLOGYWeddingsHigh-tech photo booths latest trend for the big dayGOING GREENConscious consumptionNew toilets, TVs and dishwashersBLOGComm-OdditiesMan brews up beer can coffin designPeople who read this also read …
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