Hopes pinned on better lobster season than last year

By Kathy Johnson

Hopes are high for a better season than last as Canada's largest lobster fishery opens this week in southwestern Nova Scotia.

More than 1,500 fishing boats crewed by an estimated 5,000 fishermen were ready to set thousands of traps Monday (Nov. 30) on the fishing grounds from Burn's Point in Digby County to Eastern Passage in Halifax County, weather permitting. As a safety measure, the season was a no-go if winds were 25 knots or better.

A full compliment of federal search and rescue resources will be stationed at sea and on standby for the opening two days of the season, said Ian Marshall, regional manager for DFO. Canadian Coast Guard offshore vessels will be stationed off Lunenburg and Yarmouth with additional resources allocated to the life stations in Sambro, Clark's Harbour and Westport. Fisheries patrol vessels will also be on the water. In the air, Hercules and a Cormorant aircraft will be on 30 minute standby.

With many fishermen still smarting from last year's season, where lobster markets were hard hit by the global economic downturn generating the lowest price in two decades, there's more than ever riding on this season for the local economy.

South of the border, shore prices are slightly better than last year, although market demand is still sluggish. "It really hasn't recovered since last year," said Bill Adler executive director of the Massachusetts Lobstermen's Association. "The catch is okay. The price is the problem," said Adler, with Massachusetts fishermen currently getting $3 to $3.25 for their catch, an improvement over the $2.75 paid several months ago by the processing sector.

According to the North Atlantic Lobster Coalition's Nov. 16 Massachusetts price report, "Maine lobsters are being brought into the Boston market as needed at $3.20 to $3.50 for run and up to $3.95 for picked over product. Canadian lobsters are available as needed at $4.25 to $4.50 (US$). Most of this product is from Grand Manan and the New Brunswick area. Canadian processors have been buying Massachusetts product at $3.10 to $3.25 (US$)." "The local supply is sufficient to handle the demand at this point,"" said Adler. "What is coming in and what is available from Maine and Canada is plenty of product for what's going out the front door."

With many New England fishermen packing it in for the season, along with improved product quality and the approaching holiday season, the price report predicts the boat price eventually increasing. "Although demand is light, there are less and less landings due to weather issues and less fishermen fishing. Maine and Canadian product will be available but the price to get them into Boston is likely to drift higher. The Canadian processors are also bumping up what they will pay. The quality is also improving (shipability) leaving less to go to the processors. All these factors should serve to hold current boat prices steady and eventually lead to increases," states the report.

In response to last year's near market collapse, both the federal and provincial governments have earmarked funding for new marketing initiatives as well as for a national lobster council, which is tasked with maintaining and developing market access for Atlantic lobster and supporting innovation in product development.

A recent 10-day live lobster promotional tour to China, developed by the Nova Scotia Fish Packers Association and financially supported by both the provincial and federal governments as well as industry stakeholders, was deemed a success with immediate plans to buy more Atlantic lobster by the project's Chinese partner, All Success Trading International. The company plans to expand its facilities to hold more Nova Scotia live lobster for distribution in China.

The provincial Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture's marketing division also plans to do some local promotions of the tasty crustaceans, said spokesperson Celeste Sulliman, especially during December, which has been proclaimed Month of the Lobster by the provincial government. "The details are still being worked on," she said.

Fishermen haven't been letting the grass grow under their feet either, with some planning to continue selling their catch roadside, while others have formed co-operatives as a means to jointly market their catch. According to the latest figures available, provincial fisheries have issued 63 permits for roadside live lobster sales.

Provincially the lobster fishery was worth more than $355 million in landed value alone in 2008, according to DFO statistics.