Careful management of the Prince Edward Island tuna fishery by the fishermen themselves has resulted in a successful 2008 season. And planning for the season, which ended on October 6th, began with meetings by fishermen all across the island during last winter.
“By our standards it was a very good season,” said Ed Frenette, executive director of the Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association (PEIFA). “And it’s due to the policy, acceptable to Fisheries and Oceans, of ‘one fish, per boat, per day’ along with a five-day, Monday through Friday, hauling week set by our fishermen during a province-wide series of long meetings during last winter.” This was the first season both new rules were in place.
He added that the restrictions also meant that catches were spread more evenly among the fishermen of the 250-boat tuna fleet.
Frenette said that the fisherman also decided to split the season and explained that the size and quality, not to mention price, of the tuna taken in July and early August were less than satisfactory. “So they decided to shut the fishery down in mid-August and reopen in October.”
When the season resumed on October 6, he said, the catch quality was excellent and the tuna averaged approximately a thousand pounds each. “Prices ranged from $11 to $17 per pound and averaged out at $14,” he added. Prices are in Canadian dollars “In four days’ time they caught the balance of the quota, 75 tons.” The total quota was 150 metric tons.
At the beginning of the season the daily price per pound was “around $8,” Frenette said. “On August 14 the price was between $9 and $9.50.”
As for how the fishery will be managed next season Frenette said, “It’s difficult to say at this early date, but I expect to see more of the quota fished later in the season than was done previously. The ‘one fish per boat per day’ will probably stay in effect.”