Saturday, May 31, 2008

We're still waiting for that free lobster??

Ed Frenette, you had a great press release earlier in the season about giving away free lobster at the mall....now that there are lots, we're still waiting?
Lobster catches are getting better
Prices, however, remain low
NANCY WILLIS
The Guardian SOURIS — With the 2008 lobster season half over, catches remain high in some place and low in others, but fishers say it’s better than they expected after the poor start.Earlier this month, catches were so low in some south side areas fishers stopped going fishing every day in order to save on fuel costs, and some even laid off their hired men.That changed as waters warmed, and north side ports saw excellent landings, particularly towards the eastern end. Ed Frenette, executive director of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, said the story is somewhat different on the south side of the Island where they are down somewhat in the central part of the Northumberland Strait, while the eastern part of the strait appears to be holding steady. Prices, however, are different matter. They remain at basement level as they have been since the beginning. Depending on the buyer, they are coming down at $4 or $4.50 for smaller canner lobster and $4.50 or $5 for larger markets.Fishermen are hoping increasing water temperatures will continue to improve catches. As for prices, no one has found a solution for that. The PEIFA continues to push for action on the part of the provincial government in relation to what fishermen call blatant price fixing on the part of processors.

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