According to the news it was a big boost to an industry in crisis. Craig Avery, a representative of association was speaking at the fifth annual Lobster Science Workshop in Charlottetown. He detailed the struggles Island fishers have been facing with this year’s record low lobster prices and declining demand.
It is fact that this year’s spring fishery was thrown into turmoil when some buyers and processors refused to buy fish because of an over supply. So when the provincial government changed its regulations and allowed fisherman to apply for peddler’s licences, more than 50 Island fishers took advantage of this new opportunity. Avery told that the regulation gave opportunity to the fishermen to go out and sell their own lobsters and I’m quite happy with the government coming up with this initiative.
According to Avery it not only boosted a few pocket books, but also boosted morale among the Island’s lobster fishers during a deeply difficult time in the industry. He joined key stakeholders of P.E.I.’s lobster fishing industry at the Lobster Science Workshop to discuss the current crisis in the industry and come up with strategies to maintain a quality product through difficult times.
Federal Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea spoke to the group of fishers, processors and retailers at the workshop. She encouraged them to work collaboratively and form industry partnerships to come up with solutions for the struggling sector.
