Lobster fishers endorse monitoring program

By Andy Walker

SOU’WESTER

Data collected as part of the Prince Edward Island Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture's lobster resource monitoring program was presented at the recent annual meeting of the Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Association.

The monitoring program, conducted by the department over the past nine years in collaboration with industry and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, has been endorsed by the association and fishers around the province.

"Having a good understanding of our lobster resource is critical to the future of the industry," said Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Allan Campbell. "The sustainability of this province's largest fishery is a top priority and I will be examining ways to strengthen this program in the coming months."

Department biologist Robert MacMillan added, "The program’s data is collected from approximately 90 fishers. In 2007, more than 90,000 lobsters captured in 25,000 trap hauls were measured to gather information such as size, sex and reproductive condition."

MacMillan said that the 2007 fall season in Lobster Fishing Area 25 saw a significant increase in the catch rates of sub-legal size lobsters. He said this finding is supported by the observations of fishermen over the past season, but that further monitoring is required to determine if there is an upward trend in lobster stocks in that area.

Catch rates of sub-legal size lobsters during the spring fishery in areas of LFA's 24 and 26A have remained stable or increased slightly over the nine years.

Another of the program's observations is that the sex ratio of lobsters captured during the commercial fishery has remained stable since the inception of the program, with slightly more females than males showing up in fishers' traps. It is hoped that this will allow for adequate egg production and a stable resource.

Plans are underway for the 2008 season, which will see fishers continue to collect data from their fishery that will contribute to a better understanding of the lobster resource. The lobster industry contributes more than $200 million to the Prince Edward Island economy and employs more than 5,500 in the harvesting and processing sectors.

(Andy Walker resides in P.E.I. and is a regular contributor to the Sou’Wester.)