P.E.I. lobster fishermen getting more for catch this year

P.E.I. lobster fishermen are getting about $1 more a pound this year than they did at this time last year.

They are getting $5 a pound for canners and $5.75 for market lobsters. That's up from a year ago when they got $4.25 for canners and $4.75 for markets.

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Craig Avery, president of the P.E.I. Fishermen's Association, has heard rumours some fishermen are getting as much as $6 a pound for markets. On Wednesday, grocery stores in Charlottetown were selling live market lobsters from between $9 and $11 a pound.

Lower catches and increased demand have driven the price up, he said.

"Catches are down, for sure, you know," Avery said. "Supply and demand, there is an awful lot of demand for lobster right now."

Much of the demand is coming from Asia and Europe. Avery credits fishermen, processors and government officials for working hard to promote Island lobster.

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