The Government of Prince Edward Island held a productive meeting with Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association Monday, says Premier Robert Ghiz.
“Government will continue its role in facilitating discussions,” the Premier said. “The only way to resolve the impasse is through dialogue. The meeting today with representatives from the Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association was productive – and it is clear that everyone involved is seeking a reasonable solution.”
To move the discussion forward, the Province is taking several measures.
First, the Province has approached former Auditor General Colin Younker to examine price structures of lobster in Atlantic Canada, volumes of landings, and current market conditions. By doing so, it is hoped that the complicated pricing structures of live and processed lobster will be better understood by everyone involved in the industry.
Additionally, Government will re-examine the terms of the Low Interest Loan Program in the context of lobster prices and volumes – and then determine how best to assist fishers through the current situation.
“Finally, I have also asked my Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development to begin discussions with his counterparts in Atlantic Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Minister Keith Ashfield to examine an industry-wide approach to this matter,” he said.
“This situation is unprecedented in the lobster fishery in Prince Edward Island and it is affecting the livelihood of fishers, processors and plant workers across the province,” said Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development Minister Ron MacKinley. “I will also ask the federal government through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada to dedicate additional resources to lobster market development.”
“The fishery is vital to the Island economy and I’m confident these measures will help the industry to resolve its current situation,” the Minister said.