PEI Fishermen Don’t Like Government’s Snow Crab Allotment

Canadian Fisheries and Oceans Minister Geoff Regan has announced the 2004 snow crab allocations for Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick fishermen – and made nobody happy.

On April 1, Regan set the quota allotted to inshore P.E.I. fishermen 496 tons, up from 185 tons in 2003.

Regan explained that the move to increase the snow crab allocations was an effort to promote conservation measures to the lobster fishery in the Northumberland Strait.

“I believe that with the cooperation of fishing groups in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island we can resolve outstanding management plan issues to better protect the lobster resource in Lobster Fishing Area 25 and address common conservation concerns for the benefit of all fishers,” Regan said.

That cooperation will be difficult in light of the fact that the Maritime Fishermen’s Union in New Brunswick is angry that Regan allotted part of its quota to P.E.I.

“The Maritime Fishermen’s Union is shocked and dumbfounded by the decision of the Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Geoff Regan to slash without any form of consultation the New Brunswick Inshore snow crab quota by more than 2 million dollars in landed value to profit Prince Edward Island,” said Maurice Theriault, M.F.U. project officer.

Sandy Siegel, M.F.U. executive secretary, added, “This snow crab quota was permanently allocated, last year, to the New Brunswick inshore and Minister Regan gave his assurances on February 21, at the MFU annual convention that the snow crabs fishing plan would not be altered.”

Rory McLellan, general manager of the Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association, said that the increase is not enough. “We’re tired of being treated like poor inshore cousins,” he said. “We want to be treated like other Canadian fishermen.”

McLellan added that he has met with Regan and asked for an increase. As of mid April, the Minister had not responded.

Regan did say that he has asked both organizations to submit a joint rationalization plan for LFA 25 by April 17 “to permanently reduce the lobster fishing effort.”