PORTLAND (AP) — Fishermen in New Brunswick expanded their protests demanding that lobster processing plants not accept low-priced Maine lobster, while more fishermen on Prince Edward Island joined the protests Tuesday.
Lobstermen last week blockaded plants in Shediac and Cap-Pele, New Brunswick, blocking trucks from delivering Maine lobsters and raising concerns among lobster dealers in in the state who ship tens of millions of pounds of product to Canadian processors each year.
Fishermen on Tuesday headed for another processing plant in New Brunswick, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported. On Prince Edward Island, a group of 200 fishermen showed up at the gates of a processor and threatened to stop trucks carrying Mainecaught lobster. Fishermen said the plant owners have agreed not to bring in any more U.S. lobsters for now.
Canadian lobstermen say the low price of Maine lobsters is driving down the price they’ll get for their catch when their seasons open. Videos and photos show protesting Canadian lobstermen dumping Maine lobsters in the street and holdings signs saying things like, “No More U.S. Lobster.”
In Maine, state officials and lobster dealers are concerned the blockades will back up lobster supplies on the U.S. side of the border, creating even more of a glut that already has driven down prices to 20-year lows.
One dealer along Maine’s Mid-coast told The Associated Press he cancelled a delivery of lobsters to a Canadian processor scheduled for Tuesday night out of concern for the driver’s safety and fear that the load would be lost. The dealer, who didn’t want to be named because of the sensitivity of the situation, said it appears that “mob rule” has taken over in New Brunswick.
A deal reached last week between New Brunswick Fisheries Minister Michael Olscamp, processing plants and the Maritime Fishermen’s Union called for New Brunswick lobstermen to be paid at least $2.50 a pound for lobster that was going to be processed, and $3 a pound for product for the live market.
But fishermen told the CBC that they need at least $4 a pound when their season opens. Canada’s federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced Tuesday that the start of the lobster-fishing season in southeastern New Brunswick was pushed back four days, until Monday, at the request of fishermen’s associations.
The DFO said Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield is monitoring the situation and is prepared to make changes to fisheries management practices that fall under federal jurisdiction if needed.
Fishermen in Maine have been receiving as little as $2 a pound for their catch because of a glut brought on by a strong early season harvest.
Consumer prices have fallen as well, with some retailers in the Portland area selling small, soft-shell lobsters for under $4 a pound.
Larger and hard-shell varieties sell for higher prices.
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