Spring Lobster Fishery Opens in P.E.I., Eastern N.S.

The spring lobster fishery is underway in Eastern Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Lobster seasons were scheduled to open up in lobster fishing areas (LFA) 27 to 32 in Eastern Nova Scotia (ENS) between April 9 and May 9. Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson approved the ENS adaptability measures, a five-year pilot project beginning in 2026, resulting in an earlier start to the season by as much as 10 days in some LFAs including 29, 30, 31A, 31B and 32.

Both LFAs 31B and 32 were scheduled to open on April 9 as opposed to April 19, while 31A was scheduled to open April 19 as opposed to April 29. The opening date for LFA 29 is now April 20, a 10-day shift. Only LFA 28 will still open on April 30. LFA 27 is scheduled to open on May 8 as opposed to May 15. LFA 30 is scheduled to open May 9 instead of May 19.

The pilot is being enacted as a reasonable climate change adaptability measure and will result in no net loss or gain on the season length.

For P.E.I.’s lobster harvesters, weather permitting, LFA 24 is scheduled to open on April 25 this year, the same as last year, while LFA 26 A-1 and A-2 are scheduled to open April 27, two days later than last year.

The seven LFAs in the Gulf of St. Lawrence will begin opening with LFA 26 A-3 on April 20. Both LFA 23 and LFA 26 B will open on April 30. LFA 26 B (North) is scheduled to open on May 2.

Going into the seasons, DFO began monitoring and assessing conditions at the various wharves a few weeks before the scheduled openings. Conference calls were made in the days leading up to the scheduled openings between DFO and stakeholders to obtain feedback on the situation at various locations in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.

“We’re optimistic for the spring,” said Robert Jenkins, president of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association (PEIFA).

“We’re being told processors’ inventory is all cleaned up so that will help (with the shore price) but we’ll have to wait and see like everybody else,” said Jenkins.

Last year the spring lobster fishery opened with a $6 to $7/pound shore price.

Rising fuel costs will have an impact if they keep going up, said Jenkins. “Right now, they are 25 to 30 per cent higher than last year.”

There’s “more ice around” in the Northumberland Strait this spring than in 2025. “A lot can happen in a week. if we get warm weather and the right wind conditions, a lot of stuff can move in a week,” said Jenkins.

Last spring was a pretty good season, said Jenkins. “The water temperatures stayed cold in various parts of the strait. Depending where you were fishing, it was a slow start for some. Weather conditions were bad a couple of times but all in all it wasn’t a bad spring. It finished up pretty good,” he said, adding “good fishing and stay safe” to his fellow fishers.

According to the latest statistics from DFO, in 2024, a total of 27,473,778 kgs (60,548,694 pounds) of lobster were landed in LFAs 23, 24, 26A and 26B, valued at $437,728,542.

In 2023, a total of 25,378,861 kgs (55,950,237 pounds) of lobster were landed in LFAs 23, 24, 26A and 26B, valued at 395,583,408.

In 2022, a total of 27,569,844 kgs (60,780,479 pounds) of lobster were landed in LFAs 23, 24, 26A and 26B, valued at 470,459,745.