Prince Edward Island Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is reporting a successful spring lobster fishing season with prices strong and high demand for products.
Preliminary landings from the 2016 spring lobster season total 23.5 million pounds. This amount represents a decrease in catches of 13.5 per cent from the record landings in the 2015 spring lobster season.
The preliminary landed value of the spring lobster season is estimated to be $148 million dollars; an increase of 22 per cent from 2015 spring landed values.
The spring lobster season is comprised of more than 1,000 fishermen. The spring season runs April 30 until June 30. The fall lobster season began August 9 and will close October 10 with 225 active lobster fishermen.
The lobster fishery in Prince Edward Island has about 1,200 captains, with approximately 1,800 crew working during the two seasons.
source: Prince Edward Island Department of Agriculture and Fisheries