Lobster fishermen continuing their protest against scallop draggers

Some Shelburne County, N.S. lobster fishermen are continuing to stage a protest against scallop draggers fishing the area. The lobster fishermen, who have been gathering on the Barrington side of the causeway,

claim the draggers are causing damage to lobsters on the ocean floor.

This past year the fishermen say there was damage to their lobsters, which they claim was caused by scallop rakes being dragged over lobsters. DFO scientists have studied the damage but have concluded that the majority of damage was caused by a storm that passed through the area a year ago.

The lobster fishermen don’t believe that and want the scallop fishermen out of the lobster fishing grounds. They started their protest last Friday.

The scallop season opened this past Monday.

On Wednesday the protesters shared photos of damaged lobsters with Nova Scotia Fisheries Minister Ron Chisholm.

Meanwhile, in response to a letter that the Municipality of Barrington sent to federal Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn requesting that the minister meet with representatives of local lobster fishermen on the scallop issue, Hearn said he won’t be meeting with the lobster fishermen.

“The interactions between various gear sectors and their potential impacts on halibut and other bycatch or incidental mortalities is always a concern,” Hearn stated in the letter. “As there are well-established advisory bodies currently in place in both the scallop and lobster sectors in your area, and both interests are well represented, I would expect this forum should best serve the interests of both groups.”