Although ice crab fishing has been open on the estuary of the St. Lawrence River since March 25, it is long overdue for the grief of crabs in the main fishing area, the Magdalen Islands and the Caspian.
Released at 6:00 p.m.
The latter wanted to sail on Saturday, at dawn, but Fisheries and Oceans Canada did not grant its approval. The fishing season will finally begin in Zone 12 on Wednesday morning.
Why? “For two reasons,” replies Paul Powder, a representative of the traditional crab fishermen of the Magdalen Islands, who has not lost his temper. The first is the presence of ice in some of the New Brunswick ports, which are included in Zone 12, Mr. According to Poutro, “it’s not ice to bother.” But the main reason is that “Coast Guard boats are not ready to monitor the fishery.”
“It doesn’t make sense! he said. They have all winter to prepare. ⁇
A meeting was to be held on Friday among industry members to agree on the opening date of the fishery in Section 12, but it was canceled by the Ministry and adjourned to Monday morning. Jean-Paul Gagné, Director of the Quebec Fisheries Association (AQIP) attended.
“A glimpse of temperature, a glimpse of snow for the next few days, he summarizes. Proposals have come in. We, in Quebec, unanimously propose a fishing opening tomorrow morning. [mardi]. But 60% of shareholders recommended opening the fishery on Wednesday morning. 15% prefer to delay as there is still some snow in New Brunswick. ⁇
Fisheries and Oceans Canada refuses to open fishing business in the southern Gulf, New Brunswick fishermen are not ready to fish in large numbers of crustaceans there, 2021, April 2-3 night season begins.
Right whales
Since crab fishing is subject to reservation, one might think that it does not become large before four days or after four days.
“Yes, it’s changing something,” said a spokesman for the island’s crab fishermen.
“If you start late, you can’t catch the whole group because there are whales, covering many areas while fishing,” he points out. What we want is to be able to fish as quickly as possible with less fishing in the presence of whales. ⁇
Jean-Paul Cognney, director of AQIP, which represents processing plants that buy crabs from fishermen, has a similar view: “It’s important that we have the right whale to be in a hurry because it’s finally coming to us. April.
In addition, processing plants rely on temporary foreign workers, many of whom have already arrived and are waiting for the opening of the fishery. “You have to go fishing and make them work,” he explains. People can’t wait for weeks until they start fishing. ⁇
Keep in mind that crab prices have reached an all-time high this year due to factors such as inflation, allocations on Alaskan crabs and the aftermath of the war in Ukraine. The US market dictates the prices of Quebec crab, which is a luxury item sold mainly in the US and Japan, and consumed in very small quantities domestically.
The lobster price of the Maritime is also breaking all records.
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