Opening of lobster season delayed

By Erin Pottie

FOR THE SOU’WESTER

SYDNEY, N.S. — High winds delayed the opening of the lobster season on the western side of Cape Breton.

Lobster fishing area 26-B in the Northumberland Strait along Cape Breton, was expected to open Wednesday, but only opened Friday at 6 a.m. instead.

“The reason it got delayed again another day is the winds are not good,” said Luc Legere, spokesperson for Fisheries and Oceans in Moncton, N.B, which handles the Gulf region. “Opening day is always a bit of a fickle matter. Everybody is raring to go and can’t wait to get out and we just want to make sure it’s done in the safest possible manner.”

Leonard LeBlanc, president of the Gulf Nova Scotia Fishermen’s Coalition and captain of the 45-foot Sarah and Matthew, took part in a conference call with both fisheries officials and those who fish lobster to decide whether they should go out.

“Actually, it’s better because we saved on fuel and we’re going to catch the same lobster — here, it’s four or five weeks, you catch the lobster and that’s it for the season. So, there’s no rush in going,” LeBlanc said.

LeBlanc believed his boat and other fishing vessels in Area 26-B would head out Friday to set traps as favourable weather was expected. He described Wednesday’s weather as windy, though he says his boat is larger and could have made the trip.

Less pleasant is talk of the buyer’s prices at $4.50 a pound for canners and $5 for markets, which is about $1-$1.50 less than last year.

“It’s pretty sad. Fuel is up 20 and 30 cents a litre and bait is up. Everything is up but the revenue. I think we’ll be going back to sail power pretty soon — or for sale,” LeBlanc said.

In the Maritime Region, which includes other areas of Cape Breton, Area 28 around the Bras d’Or Lakes, and Area 29 around Canso, was set to open Friday at 6 a.m.

Lobster fishing in Area 27 from Cape North to Gabarus opens May 15 and Area 30, stretching from Gabarus to the Canso Causeway opens, May 19.

In addition Area 26-A, including only Prince Edward Island and mainland Nova Scotia, will begin the season Friday morning.

(Erin Pottie is a journalist with Transcontinental Media’s Cape Breton Post and a contributor to the Sou’Wester.)