Industry worries protection of large lobsters could put lobster fishermen at risk

By Tina Comeau

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

Fishermen who earn their living in what is the most lucrative lobster fishery in the Atlantic region have been told they need to take a debate over large lobster protection very seriously.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is making large lobster protection a conservation priority, although no new measures are coming into play for the fishery opening off southwestern Nova Scotia this fall. But the discussion of what lies ahead is underway because DFO has been quite clear with fishermen: this isn’t an issue of if, but rather when.

The matter came up for discussion at a Sept. 23 meeting of the lobster fishing area (LFA) 34 management board. (LFA 34 takes in all of Yarmouth County and parts of Shelburne and Digby counties.)

Argyle fisherman Ashton Spinney, a chair of the board, said lobster fishing areas 27 to 39, and also 41, had been given until the end of September to forward input. The input Spinney suggested this area needs to insist on is what, from DFO’s standpoint, is the definition of large lobster?

“Personally I think we should be responding back with what our definition of a large lobster is,” he said, concerned that otherwise DFO’s definition may become a floating one. “Conceivably what could happen is they could say you’re not returning enough large animals back at five inch, so we’re going to drop you to four. They could keep going down until you only have a small window.”

DFO has taken on the protection of large lobsters as a priority because large lobsters produce many more eggs than smaller lobsters. They also produce larger and better quality eggs that have better survival odds. Because of these and other factors, the department says these larger mature lobsters provide greater stability to the population.

At a meeting last spring, DFO threw out two possible protection measures for the LFAs that don’t have any in place: a maximum size limit or a window slot. While there are fishermen who agree with DFO’s position on the need for protection, others are concerned about the potential fallout.

Spinney noted LFA 34 is made up of a very diversified fleet. Some fishermen fish where large lobsters are present in the winter. Some fish where large lobsters are in the spring. If they can’t land these lobsters the concern is it will push fishermen out of their traditional fishing grounds, resulting in more fishermen in a concentrated area going after the same catch.

Yarmouth County fisherman Bobby Newell was more blunt.

“The large lobster issue is a big issue,” he said, saying it will be like signing a death warrant for many fishermen. “I don’t know how many, but it will be ruining some of us,” he said, alleging some fishermen could stand to lose 25 or 30 per cent of their catch.

“If they put in a maximum measure, are 200 boats still going to go to the 50-mile line in the fall? I don’t think so. I think they’re going to be mid-shore with us where you catch smaller-sized lobster. You’re going to concentrate another 200 or 300 boats in among the rest of us.”

Said Spinney, who suggested the LFA come up with a harvesting plan to present to DFO, “We need to put in a scenario that is going to have the least impact on every member of our fishing area.”

The fishermen were told a meeting is planned in January between the LFAs and DFO.