With the setting in of another lobster season fishermen are busy preparing many things such as the cost of fuel; the condition of the stocks; the quality of the lobsters; and the available market given these uncertain economic times. Blair Shaw, a lobster fisherman for the last eight years has captained a boat out of Little River, Yarmouth County, N.S. Before that he fished with his father.
Shaw says the price is one of the chief concerns for everyone. He told that what makes him most nervous about the price is that for a number of years it hasn’t been what fishermen have hoped for. He also told that it is always something new that puts the price down it seems and since (expenses) are getting higher and higher and higher, it doesn’t look good for this fall either.
Despite the concerns and changing economics of the industry many fishermen tries not to change too much about his preparation each season. According to Shaw he will once again fish with a crew of four, counting himself. Fuel will again be a major expense. In talking with other people he knows who fish, Shaw estimates a fisherman spends an average of $25,000 a year on fuel alone.
The number of fishermen who can afford not to fish year round certainly isn’t as high as it might have once been. Shaw is one of the ones on the water all year. He has bills to pay including a loan on hit boat, which means downtime isn’t much of an option.
