Canadian Fisheries and Oceans Minister Robert Thibault has raised the minimum lobster size in certain areas of Atlantic Canada – a move met with enthusiasm by the Maritime Fishermen’s Union.
The new multi-year management plan will be implemented in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 23, 24, 25, 26A, and 26B in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.
“We’re very happy with this decision because in many areas of the southern Gulf lobsters are definitely in a decline,” said Maurice Theriault, project officer for the Maritime Fishermen’s Union in Shediac, New Brunswick. “The decline in catches may not be general, but in those areas we estimate it’s down by about 50 percent. A solution can be achieved in two ways: increase the minimum size and release females. Obviously, we support both.”
Specifically, Thibault announced that for several areas in northeastern New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and northern Nova Scotia, the DFO is setting an increase in the minimum carapace size of lobsters to 70 millimeters (2 3/4″) by the year 2005.
For Cape Breton, DFO will implement an increase in the minimum carapace size of lobsters to 76 millimeters (3″) by the year 2006.
Beginning in 2003, DFO is also implementing a prohibited size range (“window”) of 115 mm to 129 mm (4 1/2″ to 5 1/16″) – “all female lobsters in that range are to be returned in the water, male lobsters can be retained,” Thibault said. “This management measure will contribute positively to egg production by allowing lobsters in this size range to mate, produce eggs, and release larvae. This management measure will be reviewed in 2005 to assess the success of the implementation.”
Fishing organizations that wish to go beyond these conservation measures, Thibault said, are encouraged to do so and should undertake discussions with local DFO offices.
The spring fishery was scheduled to open on April30, and it will close on July 1.