Above photo: Fishermen bait lobster traps on the Clark’s Harbour wharf on dumping day in 2016. The commercial lobster fishery in LFAs 33 and 34 was scheduled to open on Nov. 27. Kathy Johnson photo
LFA 35 Opening Offers Hope for Good Start in LFAs 33-34
Strong landings, a shore price of $6.50/pound and a “decent quality” catch in the Upper Bay of Fundy had lobster fishermen in Lobster Fishing Areas 33 and 34 optimistic for another good season as they readied for the scheduled opening on November 27.
Adding to the optimism was a declining Canadian dollar, that was trading at 78 cents compared to the U.S. greenback in early November and the eight per cent tariff on live lobster exports to Europe lifted on Sept. 21 as part of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). There are positive indications going into the good season, says Bernie Berry president of the Coldwater Lobster Association.
“We’re looking for another good season,” said Berry in an interview. “In LFA 35, the catches have been good and the quality is decent. It looks like the Canadian dollar is losing a little bit of steam. The markets appear to be very strong and with the new CETA free trade deal that took effect Sept. 21 taking the eight per cent tariff off live lobster, that all bodes well for a very productive season,” said Barry.
Earlier in the fall, a rising Canadian dollar, was creating “a lot of uncertainty” said Berry.
“In our business or any export business for that matter, a weak dollar is always good,” he said. “The benefits of the free trade deal, hopefully some of that trickles down to the shore,” noting with tariffs being phased out on frozen and processed lobster products over the next five years on exports to Europe, “it should be good.”
The lobster season in LFA 35 opened on Oct. 14, with fishermen averaging 15 pounds to a pot for the first few hauls of the season. Landings remained strong for the first two weeks, which was a sharp contrast to the last two fall seasons and last spring when catches were down as much as 40 per cent for some fishermen, said Chris Hudson, president of the Bay of Fundy Inshore Fishermen’s Association. Hudson estimated landings are up five to 10 per cent overall from last year’s opening two weeks. “The boys are happy,” he said.
Both Hudson and Berry commented that the opening shore price of $6.50/pound in LFA 35 was a very good opening price.
“It’s holding its strength, said Berry, noting the opening price in LFA 35 is usually in the $6 to $6.50 range. We’re probably looking at best case scenario but LFA 35 started better than we thought, the catches have been up, the price is strong so hopefully it will be another good season,” Barry explained.
One factor going into the season that had fishermen somewhat concerned was the warm water temperatures.
“We just went though one of warmest Octobers on record,” said Berry. “We can’t do much about the environment. We can try our best to help the stocks, be it fish stocks or lobster stocks, but we are almost at the mercy of Mother Nature.”
Barry added a few weeks of cold weather will remedy that situation. “With this fishery there always can be problems crop up,” said Berry. “We will see how the season plays out.”
According to DFO spokesman Steve Bornais, the 2015-16 season was a record for LFA 33 and 34, with total landings combined from both LFAs totalling 39,200 tonnes with a landed value of $570 million. Preliminary data for 2016-17 indicates landings are just over 30,200 tonnes with a landed value of $490 million for both districts combined.
