Tuna committee puts P.E.I. season on hold indefinitely

For the second time in as many weeks, tuna fishermen in Prince Edward Island will be taking an unexpected holiday, this time to evaluate the progress they've made so far this season.

Walter Bruce, chair of the P.E.I. Blue fin Tuna Committee, said the shutdown was set to take place once fishermen caught 60 tons of fish.

While he didn't have an exact figure, he estimated roughly 75 tons had been caught by the end of the day Friday, which is half of the 150-ton quota for the season.

The committee planned to meet Monday afternoon to decide whether to continue the season, or put it on hold until market prices improve.

Last week, fishermen stayed ashore Monday and Tuesday due to a holiday in Japan.

Bruce said any tuna caught over the two-day period would have had to be stored, as their Japanese counterparts would not be fishing.

Introducing too much tuna into the market after the holiday could have flooded the market and driven down the price.

The break was successful, he said.

"Prices have remained stable."

In the three days of fishing that followed the shutdown, Bruce said some fishermen had a slow week, while others did very well.

"Those who got fish said they had a great week."

The tuna season opened July 30 and runs until the end of the year.

(From the Journal Pioneer, Transcontinental Media)