The federal government has announced aid package to bailout the crisis stricken lobster industry in P.E.I. Fisheries Minister Gail Shea announced a $65-million package containing both short- and long-term assistance. Fred White, who fishes out of Murray Harbour, in southeastern P.E.I., said that anything the government does, they can frig it up, this aid package will not do much for their help.
Fishermen on the Northumberland shape are in worse financial shape than those on the North Shore. They add years of small catches to this year’s crisis, which is seeing the worst prices on the wharf in 20 years. Fishermen Jamie McCarthy is of view that this year lobster industry suffers major set back.
Fisherman Terry White said he will qualify but without help he would not be able to make the loan payments on his boat and gear. He added that there is a majority of fishermen around here’s ain’t going to be able to, especially on the south side. In the long term, there is a plan to see fewer lobster fishermen in Atlantic Canada.
Minister Shea said that a self-rationalization program, which we would be a partner in, would allow the lobster fishing areas to retire some of those licences instead of them being sold to another party and keep the effort up.
