P.E.I. Opposition seeing red over lobster carapace decision

The PC Opposition on P.E.I. is accusing the MacLauchlan government and the Island's four Liberal MPs of not doing enough to fight Ottawa's decision to increase the lobster carapace size for Lobster Fishing Area 25.

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Opposition fisheries criticColin LaVietold CBC Newsthe change in the carapace size will have a direct impact on Island fishermen who supply smaller-sized lobsters, known ascanners.

He notedP.E.I. processing plants have invested money to develop and service the canner market.

LaViedoesn't think enough is being done by Liberalpoliticians to fight the decision, which comes into effect for the fall fishery.

Former Tory MP fought for fishermen, says LaVie

"They never went to bat for the Island fishermen," said LaVie.

"When GailSheawas a member we made sure we hadcanner lobsters, and that is where we are putting most of our levy money, into the canner lobster."

LaVie said the four Liberal MPs on the Island, now in government,are not fighting for the Island fishermen, and he said the same about the provincial government.

"The MacLauchlan government just folded like a chair,"he said.

P.E.I. Fisheries MinisterAlan McIsaac has said the provincialgovernment lobbied against the change and he has also expressed concern about the decision.

Egmont MP Robert Morrissey saidhe wasn't surprised about the criticism from the Opposition.

"Unfortunately it's a typical position that comes from opposition parties who have nothing else to offer," he said.

Without proper management, the lobster fishery would not be as successful as it is, he added.

"Over the years carapace size increases have led to increases in catches for fishermen, and in fact since 2005 to 2015,a 10year period, the lobster catch in Atlantic Canada has almost doubled," said Morrissey.

"There are parts of the decision I'm not happy with but in my political career, I have always supported and defended conservation measures because I have seen this fishery at a time when it was barely a subsistence fishery and people were not making any money."

The P.E.I. Fishermen's Association is organizing a meeting next week in O'Leary for the fishermen affected by the change.

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