Whether the fishermen are in favour of reducing 50 lobster traps for the 2009 or against would be clear very soon through voting. Near about 190 members of the Western Gulf Fishermen Association have voted by secret ballot on Monday, April 6 in Alberton, P.E.I. It is told that the ballots were counted, but results will not be made known until after fishermen in two other associations from Lobster Fishing Area 24 cast their ballots on Tuesday. But the results are withheld and would be declare after the Eastern Kings Fishermen Association lobster fishermen meeting at the Rollo Bay and North Shore Fishermen Association members meet at the Rustico Legion. Immediately before voting, fishermen heard from the executive director of the P.E.I. Seafood Processors Association, Olin Gregan. They were hoping he’d give them some assurance that a one-year only drop from 300 traps to 250 traps would earn them a better price for their catch but he couldn’t. Gregan told that the reality of the situation is we are where we are and we have to try to work through it. He added that the reduction would help alleviate the glut but agreed with fisher comments that the landings over the entire season would change very little. Craig Avery, president of the Western Gulf Fishermen’s Association told of conversations he had with Department of Fisheries and Oceans officials. He was advised any change in licences would have to be based on wishes of a clear majority of fishermen – about 80 per cent of those who vote across LFA 24.
