Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Assoc.

For Immediate Release:

May 6, 2020

The Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Association (PEIFA) is disappointed in Federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan' s decision· to have a number of Gulf Area LFAs set their lobster traps on May 15^t^h 2020.

In March 2020, the Minister stated all fisheries would be opening on their scheduled season start dates unless a formal request was received from an LFA requesting a change of date. In addition, any date change requests would be assessed on an LFA by LFA basis and would require a documented show of support.

Several weeks later the parameters for assessing a season start date changed to include the input of other sectors of industry including buyers and processors.

As season dates have direct impact on a harvester' s earnings and after careful consideration, the PEIFA Board of Directors decided a formal LFA vote was the best way to achieve clarity on season start preferences. A formal vote was conducted between April 17^th and 20^th

The support for a May 6^t^h start date in LFA 24 was 60.9% and 48.8% in LFA 26A. Historically fishing in these early weeks of May is the most productive lobster fishing time in LFA 24. It is also important to note that LFA 24 also had the support of most but not all of the processing and buying sector to start their season on May 6^th.