Key takeaways:
- Local restaurants are concerned high costs may affect business.
- Charlie McGeoghegan, chair of the Lobster Fishers of P.E.I. marketing board, says reasonable costs for lobster help, but prices have risen for fishers.
Island fishers expect the beginning of the spring lobster season in a few weeks with a high sense of positiveness.
The catch is fetching record costs in locations where the season has already started—several anglers in the Maritimes report receiving as much as $20 a pound for their lobster.
“It makes us feel excellent. The fishermen are happy,” stated Charlie McGeoghegan, chair of the Lobster Fishers of P.E.I. marketing board.
The previous spring, lobster costs in P.E.I. struck record prices, beginning the season at the highest they’ve been in 15 years.
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But costs have risen for anglers, with McGeoghegan stating they’re four times higher than five years back.
“The cost of fuel, of course, that’s up nearly a dollar a liter over last year, and that’s one of our highest costs,” he said.
“With the price of that, and the cost of bait, the cost ought to be high to keep payments where they require.”
Prices are now hovering at about $15 per pound. While they usually drop once Island fishers strike the water, McGeogheghan said they wouldn’t go down by much more because the market is high while supply stays low.
Source – cbc.ca
