High fuel costs, low lobster prices and hungry seals could force some fishermen out

FOR THE SOU’WESTER

From the Evening News, Transcontinental Media

Cape John, N.S. – Low lobster prices and record high fuel costs have some North Shore fishermen wondering if they’ll survive another season.

Most fishermen received a shore price of about $4.50 per pound for the smaller canner-sized lobsters and $5 per pound for the larger market-sized for their first haul of the season, about $1 less per pound than 2007.

“Fuel is going to be a big thing this year,” said Robert Patriquin, Cape John fisherman, after bringing in a disappointing first catch.

“I won’t be fishing if the catches are down. I’ll quit and haul the boat home it’s just not worth it. We’ve got to have at least 150 pounds a day to make ends meet.”

For some fishermen the cost to fuel the boat collecting the lobsters is higher than the cost to hire a crewmember.

Depending on the distance a fisherman travels to check the traps, they may burn about 100 liters of diesel fuel at a cost of about $140, and hired hands are paid about $125 a day.

“It’s not going to be good if the lobsters get scarce,” said Cape John Fishermen Sterling Heighton.

“It’s going to make all the difference in the world with how we function.”

At least 10 fishermen between Pugwash and Barrachois have already made the decision to keep their gear grounded, reducing the number of traps in the strait by 3,000.

“About 20 years ago that would have been unheard of, everybody with gear went out and fished,” said Wallace fisherman Wally Allen.

He said his catch was down from the previous year causing him to closely monitor operating expenses verses income.

Some fishermen said their first haul was better than expected while others were reduced by about half.

“I was very surprised, on account of the weather,” said Barrachois fisherman Truman Patriquin. “Speaking for myself, it’s up from what it was last year. It looks good.”

Lismore fisherman Darryl MacIvor shares his optimism and believes landings will improve as the water warms and the season progresses.

“We’re at about half of what we had last year at this time but I’m optimistic it will come,” he said.

In his area fishermen were bringing in between 200 and 300 pounds of lobsters.