Tignish-DeBlois MLA Gail Shea today questioned the need to abandon the existing Lobster Management Plan for LFA 25 in Western Prince Edward Island.
In 2003, local fishers from LFA 25 developed and signed a multi-year plan with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans for the management and conservation of the lobster fishery in their area. Following lower landings in last year’s fall lobster fishery, DFO unilaterally changed the plan with more restrictive conditions that, in some cases, may force Island fishers out of the industry without compensation while not guaranteeing an improvement in the health of the lobster fishery.
“In the absence of compelling long-term scientific data to support their position, I can’t for the life of me understand why DFO has made this decision, especially since a long-term management and conservation plan developed in partnership with local fishers was signed only last year. It just seems as if they are throwing out the baby with the bath water,” commented Shea.
Shea noted that the lobster fishery functions on a cyclical basis with it taking seven years for a female lobster to fully mature. As a result, some years yield higher or lower catches than average but that doesn’t necessarily indicate a threat to the long-term health of the lobster stock.
Meanwhile, the new restrictive conditions may pose serious economic challenges for many of the nearly 300 Island lobster fishers in LFA 25, in some cases potentially reducing landings by more than half. A recent meeting between the PEI Fisherman’s Association (PEIFA) and federal Fisheries Minister Regan failed to resolve anything, as Minister Regan dismissed calls to revisit the decision or explore appropriate compensation to offset the negative impacts the decision will have on the local lobster industry.
“People involved in this issue – from fishers on the wharf, to the PEIFA, right up to Premier Binns and ACOA Minister McGuire – have lobbied DFO and Minister Regan to hold off taking such drastic steps and respect the existing management plan. To date, their concerns have fallen on deaf ears. This isn’t an issue of politics but one of common sense and I just hope that DFO isn’t too hidebound to recognize common sense when it sees it,” observed Shea.