We're only talking a couple days': 2-day flexibility permitted for southwest N.S. lobster season opening if needed due to weather | Saltwire - SaltWire Network
The opening of the commercial lobster fishery in southwestern Nova Scotia will be a little less stressful for fishermen this year.
At the request of industry, up to two days of early flexibility has been approved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) for the opening of the Lobster Fishing Areas (LFA) 33 and 34 season. The season is scheduled to start on Nov. 29 in both LFAs. But the earliest it could open, if needed, is Nov. 27.
"The request was made by industry due to multiple delays to the start of the LFA 34 2020 season, caused by poor weather conditions," says DFO communications advisor Megan Gallant.
Last year in LFA 34 (which takes in all of Yarmouth County and parts of Digby and Shelburne counties) the season start was delayed to Dec. 8 due to countless days of strong winds. In LFA 33 along the south shore, the season opened as scheduled on Nov. 30.
"That was a hard pill to swallow," says Heather Mulock, executive director of the Coldwater Lobster Association. "Two days before the season was going to open the guys were laughing and smiling. It was a good time and they were feeling good about it. To lose out on that was difficult, but again safety always comes first."
Mulock said the two-day flexibility will mean fishers "won't miss out on another slicker."
The two-day flexibility will allow the pre-season weather calls to begin on Nov. 24. The calls are used to confirm the season's start.
"As per established practice, representatives from each LFA Advisory Committee will participate in conference calls with staff from DFO, Canadian Coast Guard, as well as Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to discuss Dumping Day," says Gallant.
"These calls provide the fishing industry the opportunity to recommend a delay to the season based on safety concerns. On each call, the predicted weather and sea conditions are discussed. If the forecast calls for winds in excess of 26 knots, the opening is automatically delayed (in LFA 34)," Gallant says. "However, if the forecast does not offer a definitive picture, then the final decision rests with the representatives from each LFA. Each LFA makes its own decision, independently of the other, about opening. The pre-season weather calls have been in place for approximately 21 years."
With the season opening fast approaching, activity is starting to ramp up at the numerous fishing wharves in the region, which will soon be full of lobster fishing gear waiting to be set.
Last year's delay
"Anytime DFO is willing to work with fishermen is good. I think anytime we can fish it safer and less worrisome, that's a good thing too," says Tommy Amirault, president of the Coldwater Lobster Association.
While the season opening in LFA 33 and 34 has been delayed by a day or two over the years, and sometimes longer, last year's LFA 34 lengthy opening delay was an exception. And not one that anyone would want to see repeated.
"I think that's why the change this year," Amirault says.
"A lot of people thought we let a really good day go and as the fall went on, I think people felt pressured to go on a day that might not be perfect just to try and get the traps in the water and get the season started," Amirault says.
"I think last year people were frustrated, not everybody, I think everybody had a decent season; but I think some people were frustrated that some decent weather went by," he adds. "If we were asking for a week flexibility, I don't think people would agree with that. I think most fishermen feel its better to start a little bit later price wise and quality wise. We're only talking a couple days, not manipulating the season."
Opening day flexibility was also granted to LFA 38 fishers (Grand Manan, N.B.) this year by DFO at the request of industry. In the event the weather is unfavorable for dumping day on Nov. 9, they will have the option of setting their gear the day before.
Amirault, as well as other fishermen from southwestern Nova Scotia, often go to Grand Manan for the start of that season to lend a hand.
"I'm going to Grand Manan for a week to help a guy out," he says. "My son is going and some of his buddies are going… they do have a hard job finding crews and banders."
In southwestern Nova Scotia, it will soon be time for the influx of fishermen from other areas who help crew the hundreds of lobster fishing vessels for the opening month of the season. "It's been this way for a long time. A gang from P.E.I., Cape Breton, Pictou, they get the job done. They stay a month, three or four weeks, some stay longer. It's working," says Amirault.
With strong shore prices that have been holding for a more than a year, and the demand for seafood high, Amirault says everyone is hoping for a solid price when the southwestern Nova Scotia lobster fishery opens. Especially given the rising cost of expenses.
"Traps are more, bait is more, fuel is more. I think everybody is hoping the price of lobster will be high enough to offset those numbers," he says.
The current shore price for lobster fishers in the Bay of Fundy (LFA 35) is in the $12-a-pound range.
According to preliminary statistics from DFO, in LFA 34 for the 2020-21 season, licence holders had landings of 20,270 tonnes, generating a landed value of $375,825,000. For the 2019-20 season, LFA 34 fishers landed 20,907 tonnes of lobster, worth $361,619,000 wharf side. The 2018-19 season saw landings of 20,443 tonnes worth $365,283,000 in LFA 34.
LFA 33 licence holders had landings of 7,125 tonnes in 2020-2021, with a landed value of $138,963,000. For the 2019-20 season, LFA 33 fishers landed 6,345 tonnes with a landed value of $112,636,000.
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