Kevin J. MacAdam, Minister of Fisheries and Tourism, commented today on reports which are circulating that the spring lobster fishery for 2000 will open a day early on April 29 and close a day early on June 29. "I appreciate the need to open April 29th, as most Island fishers do not fish on Sundays, and I commend DFO for proposing this adjustment," stated the Minister, continuing, "however, I do not feel this creates the need to shorten the season by a day to compensate."
The spring lobster fisheries in Prince Edward Island traditionally open on April 30 each season. In the current year, this date falls on a Sunday; a day on which the great majority of Island fishers, by common agreement and community tradition, do not fish. "Landings on opening day are traditionally light, and since the following day is Sunday, the first effective day of landings in 2000 will be May 01, as it is under usual circumstances," noted the Minister. "For this reason, I see no need to close the fishery one day early," he concluded.
"I have written to Federal Fisheries Minister Herb Dhaliwal on this issue and I trust that he will agree that there is no justification for shortening the PEI spring lobster fishery in the manner being proposed," the Minister concluded.