In a move harkening back to the early days of F.D.R.’s New Deal, the Province of Prince Edward Island is offering money to lobster fishermen-not to fish. However, it’s a loan, not a grant, and it’s only for fishermen in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 25 (off the southwestern P.E.I. coast).

According to a July 24 statement released by provincial Fisheries Minister Neil LeClair, a $600,000 low-interest “bridge” loan is being offered to LFA 25 fishermen “in order to reduce the fall lobster fishing effort and make a preliminary step towards rationalizing the fleet.”

LeClair continued, “The province has agreed to a loan request from LFA 25 fishermen. This money will be used to bank up to 30 licenses in advance of the fall fishery. Fishermen have stressed to the province the importance of an opportunity to reduce effort immediately and at a time when it makes the most sense.”

LeClair concluded, “The funding provided today is an initial step to support the fishery in this area. The funds are being delivered with the understanding that an agreement of federal funding is pending for future efforts to sustain the fishery in this area.”

Ed Frenette, Executive Director of the Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association, said, “The province is advancing the LFA 25 Rationalization Committee $600,000 to pay 30 fishermen $20,000 each not to fish the 2009 fall lobster season. The $20K is considered an advance on an overall price-yet to be determined-paid when DFO [Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans] funds are freed up. The $20K will then be repaid to the province off the top of individuals’ full license retirement price.”

Frenette continued, “The process applies only to the lobster fishing license itself; nothing else is affected. The feds will put in only up to 50 percent of the total cost of license rationalization-to $3 million-with the remaining fishermen repaying a long-term loan-either to the province or private lenders-at a set fee per fisherman per year (no landings levy). The assumption, of course, is that catches for those remaining in the fishery will increase in accordance with the number of licenses taken out.”

He added, “LFA 25 is the first LFA to move forward on this plan. Others are expected to follow in the coming months. All plans will be tied to sustainability objectives as outlined by the 2007 Fisheries Resource Conservation Council (FRCC) report and subject to DFO approval.”

In other words, Frenette said, “You [the government] give with one hand; you take from the other.”

The 2007 report, “A Sustainability Framework for Atlantic Lobster,” said in part, “It is very important for the industry to adjust and control fishing effort to maintain balance with the available resource. Many factors-higher fishing costs, larger vessels, etc.-have exacerbated the pressure for additional landings and are becoming threats to sustainability of the lobster fishery.”

The two-month fall season is scheduled to end October 10.