From strong winds to right whales, the spring lobster fishery in Prince Edward Island was a challenging one.
The fishery had no sooner opened in lobster fishing areas (LFA) 26A and 24 on April 27 and 28 when the first North Atlantic right whale (NARW) of the season was detected on April 29 in LFA 24, resulting in a closure of part of the fishing grounds effective May 4.
Another NARW was detected on June 9, impacting an area outside the 20-fathom line in the western LFA 24 fishery. In 2025, the first NARW closure was May 20.
Charlie McGeoghegan, chair of the Lobster Fishers of PEI Marketing Board, said the NARW closures had a big impact. “The lobsters were in the area they had to move out of. They lost two weeks of prime fishing in that area (North Lake). At the end of the season they had to move out of another area.”
Weather also negatively impacted the spring lobster fishery.
“The weather was really poor this spring, especially the whole month of May. A lot of northeast wind. That affected the catches a lot on the north side of P.E.I. and the south side. The water temperature was three to four degrees colder than normal, which also impacted the catches.”
In LFA 26a where McGeoghegan traps lobsters, water temperature was a factor, he said. “The catches were sporadic. Some fishermen were up. Some down. Overall, I would say the catch will be down a little bit.”
The shore price for P.E.I. fishers was about one dollar better this season than in 2025, said McGeoghegan. “The price opened at $8–$8.50, then dropped 50 cents for a week or so by some buyers. At the end of the season it was $9–$10.”
P.E.I. fishermen saw positive recruitment signs in their catch this spring. “Juveniles, we seen a lot of undersized lobsters in the traps, more than usual,” said McGeoghegan.
The LFA 26A fishery closed for the season on June 27, while LFA 24 closed on June 28.
“Spring landings in most LFAs were down, anywhere from five to 20 per cent due to weather and cold water. Catches were very slow to start and only came on for many well into June,” said Geoff Irvine, executive director of the Lobster Council of Canada (LCC).
“There were significant area closures due to the presence of right whales in the Gulf, which for the first time impacted lobster harvesters fishing closer to shore,” added Irvine.
While the live lobster market is being impacted by the start of summer fishing in Maine and Massachusetts, Irvine said he expects Canadian processors will be sourcing product there to process over the summer.
“The entire sector remains nervous about U.S./Canada trade talks, which has put a chill on enthusiasm to build inventory in the short term,” said Irvine. “The tariff relief for lobster from China is scheduled to end on Dec. 31, so we are working with the federal government as they navigate trade discussions with China and the U.S. at the same time — which are both linked.”
Irvine said the LCC is currently working on some lobster marketing initiatives in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and China.
The last of the Gulf commercial lobster fishing seasons, LFA 25, opened on Aug. 10. This year marks year two of a five-year schedule of predetermined season opening days. Next year the season will open Aug. 9, then Aug. 8 in 2028 and Aug. 7 in 2029. The retention of striped bass as a bycatch as part of a small-scale experimental pilot project launched in 2024 in LFA 25 will continue. An increase in minimum height of escape mechanism from 44 to 45 mm is a new management measure introduced by DFO in LFA 25 this year.
