Lobster fishermen who headed out at the break of dawn Wednesday near Cassie Cape along the Northumberland Strait to haul in their first catches of the season say numbers are down this year.
“I guess it’s about 20 per cent lower than last year. But the price is supposed to be a bit better so it will compensate for that,” said Lucien Gallant.
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Gallant has been fishing lobster in the Northumberland strait for 56 years. So far he says he’s less than impressed with the number of crustaceans he’s finding in his traps this year.
He’s hoping that higher demand for lobster in the United States, Asia and Europe will translate into higher prices to compensate.
According to the Maritime Fisherman’s Union, higher demand for lobster on the world market has indeed increased prices this year. Low landings in Maine and New England is also driving up prices.
Right now, retail consumers are paying the early spring price of more than $14 a pound for lobster in parts of the Maritimes.
The union says most of the lobster fished out of the Northumberland Strait is processed into frozen packs and shipped overseas and to the U.S.
Northumberland lobster have softer shells, so they can’t be shipped live to markets overseas and in the U.S. That will be a factor in a few weeks time when the new price for the summer season is set.
“I would like to get about $6 to $6.50 a pound this year” Gallant said.
Last year, fishermen along the Northumberland Strait were getting the summer price of $5 a pound from smaller canners, and $5.50 for markets.
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Fisherman Joel Perry says they will need higher prices if the catches don’t improve as the season progresses. He said while it is still early in the season, it was discouraging to see the smaller catches on Wednesday near Shediac.
He added the lobster he did catch were smaller than expected.
“The quality is there, but the size seems to be down,” Perry said.
Lobster fishing season in the Northumberland Strait runs from August 9th to October 10th.
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