Results from the 2011 lobster season in Prince Edward Island show a stable fishery, says Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development Minister Ron MacKinley.
“Lobster fishers can look back on the past season with mixed feelings,” said Minister MacKinley. “While poor weather conditions and an increase in carapace size impacted landings in both the spring and fall fisheries, there were some positive signs of price recovery, particularly in the spring season, and the sustainability measures that are being implemented hold promise for a stronger fishery in the future.”
Today, Mr. MacKinley released preliminary numbers for the 2011 season. Overall landings for 2011 were 20.7 million pounds with a landed value of $81 million. In LFA 25, where the season ended recently, total landings were 3.7 million pounds with a landed value of $13.6 million. As previously reported, landings in LFA 24 during the spring season were 12.2 million pounds, and in LFA 26A, total landings were 4.8 million pounds with a collective landed value of $67.4 million.
Overall, total landings for the 2011 season were down by 13 per cent over the record year experienced in 2010. With improvement in the shore price in the spring, the landed value was on par with last year.
“The department continues to work with the industry to support market and product development, and monitor market conditions,” said Mr. MacKinley. “As the new minister, I am totally committed to work hard to strengthen the lobster fishery in this province and see market conditions and shore prices improve.”
The lobster industry is the backbone of the fishery in Prince Edward Island and a driving force in the rural economy in many areas of the province. Lobster accounts for approximately 60 per cent of the landed value of the fishery in the province. It employs 6,500 people in the fishing and processing sectors, and has an economic value of approximately $210 million.