Lobster season opens in southeastern P.E.I. on cold but 'beautiful' day
The spring lobster fishery opened in the southeastern part of Prince Edward Island a day late on Saturday, while the northern section that was scheduled to open on Monday will be delayed at least a day.
Jeff Bell and other fishers in the 26A lobster fishing area of Murray Harbour loaded their boats and headed into the Northumberland Strait before 6 a.m. to set their traps.
Bell, in his 43rd year as the captain of his own boat, said it was cold — there was frost on his boat — but still "beautiful out there."
"Couldn't ask for a better day," Bell said.
Airika Pollard says the fishing community in Murray Harbour is 'really nice to be around.' (Stacey Janzer/CBC)
The fishery was scheduled to open on Friday but was pushed back a day due to high winds in the strait. The fishers will take a day to rest on Sunday before heading out to pull their traps on Monday, weather permitting.
The call has already been made to delay the opening in lobster fishing area 24 on the Island's north shore because of the forecast, according to a Facebook post by the P.E.I. Fishermen's Association. A meeting is scheduled for Monday at 3:30 p.m. to provide an update.
A lobster boat loaded with traps gets set to head into the Northumberland Strait. (Ken Linton/CBC)
Airika Pollard, a nurse at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown, was at the Murray Harbour wharf with her brother helping their father bait traps.
"For us it's a family business," Pollard said. "You always want to help out and also … the community around the wharf is really nice to be around."
