North Shore lobster fishery hit by 3rd delay

CBC
·1 min read
The boats are loaded up with traps in harbours along P.E.I.'s North Shore, but they're still tied up waiting for the spring lobster season to begin. (Steve Bruce/CBC - image credit)
The boats are loaded up with traps in harbours along P.E.I.'s North Shore, but they're still tied up waiting for the spring lobster season to begin. (Steve Bruce/CBC - image credit)

Friday is another no go for the start of the lobster fishing season off P.E.I.'s North Shore, with high winds continuing to make conditions unsafe.

The decision to delay the season opening in LFA 24, which runs along the North Shore from East Point to North Cape, was made on a conference call with Fisheries and Oceans Canada Wednesday morning.

A strong wind warning in the marine forecast for the area has been lifted, but winds are still forecast at 15 to 20 knots (28-37 km/h) with one to two metre seas. Calmer weather is preferred for setting day, because boats are heavily laden with traps.

The season was originally scheduled to open Monday.

P.E.I. fishers in LFA 26A, in the Northumberland Strait from Victoria to East Point, opened their season on Saturday. That season was also delayed by weather, but only by a day.

Fisheries and Oceans has not yet scheduled another conference call to discuss the season opening, but said it would soon.