Fishermen hope to catch evidence of damaged lobster shells

Although nothing is conclusive, Shelburne County lobster fishermen were not

encouraged by the results of a test fishery conducted in late August on the

fishing grounds between Cape Sable Island and Seal Island, N.S. “It doesn’t look good,” said Stoney Island fisherman Kevin Ross, after a

two-day set with 50 traps only yielded 29 lobsters — 20 tinkers and nine

keepers. Out of that day’s catch, five lobsters had shell damage.

Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 34 fishermen, who are concerned about the impact

on lobster stocks and habitat from scallop dragging, were given permission

for the 50 trap test fishery in Scallop Fishing Area (SFA) 29 by DFO.

Concentrating on areas B, C and D of SFA 29, the traps were set in strings

of 10, and moved after each set, covering an area about 25 miles wide and 28

miles out to sea. The traps were hauled four times. Yielding daily catches

of 691, 112, 29 and 327 lobsters.

In total, 1,159 lobsters were caught, tested for blood protein, inspected

for shell damage, and a biological sample taken for analysis.

Lobsters with “old shell damage” varied from a low of 0.5 per cent to a high

of five per cent of each day’s catch. “Old shell damage means it didn’t just happen,” said DFO lobster technician

Cheryl Frail, who accompanied the lobster fishermen during the test fishery.

Just exactly when the damage did happen is a question that really can’t be

answered with certainty, she said.

Fishermen also had the use of a remotely controlled underwater camera, but

unfortunately it broke before they had a chance to film the areas they

wanted. “We do know we can get good pictures with it,” said Ross. “We did get some

data.” The fishermen will be getting the camera back in about a month to

film the areas where they want video footage.

The fishermen are also pushing to have more in-depth surveys done by DFO

science. Since the SFA 29 fishery was revived eight years ago, lobster

fishermen have asked numerous times for a survey to be conducted before the

SFA 29 fishery opens and another after it closes. “We want an area marked off, filmed and then towed,” said Ross. “We want to

get this settled once and for all.”

However, it’s not that simple, said Ian Marshall, area manager for DFO. “It’s more than just taking pictures,” said Marshall. “With just pictures of

one place or another you might not be able to come to any kind of

conclusion. You would have to do a study regime… what questions you want

answered would dictate what the science would be.”

In the meantime, DFO science will be analyzing the date collected by the

fishermen once it is provided, then facilitating discussions between the LFA

34 fishermen and the Full Bay Fleet, said Marshall. “The Full Bay Fleet agreed to sit down to discuss any future fishery in that

area,” said Marshall, adding that an integrated management plan for the

scallop fleet is something that would implemented over a period of time.

For the most part the SFA 29 fishery, which opened on June 23, has wrapped

up for this year. “There are still some east of Baccaro boats active, said

Marshall.

At the peak of the season approximately 40 vessels in the Full Bay Fleet

took part in the SFA 29 fishery, but some boats only had one trip, said

Marshall.

While there wasn’t 100 per cent observer coverage in the SFA 29 fishery,

Marshall said the only place there was a lobster bycatch problem was in area

B, which resulted in the closure of two boxes within that area. (Kathy Johnson is a journalist with Transcontinental Media's Shelburne Coast Guard newspaper, which is a contributor to the Sou'Wester.)