Lobster Outlook 2017

FOR THE WEEK OF WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2017

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n THE SEASON

Optimism heading into the season Canadian lobster exports topped $2.1 billion in 2016 KATHY JOHNSON TRICOUNTY VANGUARD

Season opener safety Assets lined up for dumping day in southwestern Nova Scotia.

REGIONAL

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Without a hitch?

A look at past season starts.

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Part of the family

Working with four generations of a fishing business family.

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A personal reflection

When mom watches from the wharf.

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Keeping them safe

Efforts aimed at passing on safety message.

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Special meaning

The special meaning behind a lobster pot tree.

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While many factors can come into play before an opening shore price is determined in the commercial lobster fishery, there is reason for optimism going into this season.

In the Upper Bay of Fundy in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 35, where the season opened on Oct. 14, there are reports of strong landings and a solid shore price of $6.50. The Canadian dollar was trading at less than 80 cents with its American counterpart in October, which is always good news for Canadian exporters.

The icing on the cake is the duty-free tariff on live lobster exports to Europe that took effect on Sept. 21 under the CanadaEuropean Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Previously, live lobster exports into Europe carried an eight per cent tariff. Under CETA, tariffs on frozen and processed lobster will also be phased out over the next three to five years.

This is good news for the lobster industry, says Geoff Irvine, executive director of the Lobster Council of Canada.

“This is a great opportunity to sell more lobster so it’s really good news,” Irvine told fishermen during the SWNS Lobster Forum in Yarmouth this fall.

While it is “too soon to show actual growth with data,” said Irvine in an early-November interview, “there is anecdotal information from shippers that European customers (mostly in the south like Italy, Spain and France) are coming back and asking for quotes on live lobster now that we are more competitive with our competitors from the United States. Time will tell how this plays out but early news is positive.”

Asian markets also show good growth potential, says Irvine.

According to statistics provided at the lobster forum, the total value of Canadian lobster exports to Asian countries increased by $167.6 million from 2014 to 2016 – from $210,658,120 to $378,293,703.

The Lobster Council of Canada, along with contingents of Canadian exhibitors, attended two seafood expos in Asia this fall.

About 16 companies from Eastern Canada attended Seafood Expo Asia in Hong Kong in September, said Irvine.

“This is a relatively small show

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KATHY JOHNSON

A fisherman catches a coil of rope while piling lobster gear on the East Pubnico wharf in preparation for the upcoming season.

things TO KNOW

the opening of LFA 1 Following 35 in mid-October there were

2 3 4 KATHY JOHNSON

Geoff Irvine, executive director for the Lobster Council of Canada, gives fishermen an overview of lobster markets, landings and values at the SWNS Lobster Forum in Yarmouth this fall.

but comments from exhibitors noted that while the number of buyers in attendance was down, the quality of buyers was up so most found the show very useful to continue to develop current relationships and build new ones,” Irvine said.

A total of 55 companies from across Canada attended the China Fisheries and Seafood Expo in late October/early November.

The show “was very successful with high traffic and lots of interest in lobster,” said Irvine.

“Our challenge in China re-

mains that we quote prices into that market where everyone can be profitable as competition often causes Canadian exporters to undercut one another. However, the Chinese market remains an excellent opportunity for Canadian shippers as more lobster is sold through traditional channels and new e-commerce verticals.”

Over the last 10 years, increased supply and lower prices have allowed the Lobster Council of Canada to broaden lobster markets, which in turn has helped sustain higher prices and

reports of strong landings and a solid shore price of $6.50 as of mid-November.

Asian markets are showing good growth potential.

Ninety-eight per cent of Canadian lobster is now certified to Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standards, which has helped in the marketplace.

The Canadian dollar was trading at less than 80 cents with its American counterpart in October, which is always good news for Canadian exporters.

demand. Ninety-eight per cent of Canadian lobster is now certified to Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standards, which has also helped in the marketplace.

According to DFO spokesman Steve Bornais, the 2015-16 season was a record for LFA 33 and 34, with total landings combined from both LFAs totalling 39,200 tonnes with a landed value of $570 million. Preliminary data for 2016-17 indicates landings were just over 30,200 tonnes with a landed value of $490 million for both districts combined.

On the menu Try out some of these lobster recipies.

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YOU SAID IT

“THE ONLY FUTURE FOR THIS INDUSTRY IS FOR LOBSTERMEN TO SPEAK AND ACT AS ONE.” Colin Sproule talking about the importance of fishing associations. A9

KATHY JOHNSON

Lobster fishermen Jamie Bub Nickerson (on the truck), Chris Thurston (left) and Floyd Amirault unload lobster traps at the East Pubnico wharf in preparation for the upcoming season.

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LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK t 8&%/&4%": /07&.#&3

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n ‘TIS THE SEASON

Another lobster season gearing up Lobster fishery vital to region’s economy

A note from our editor As the 2017-2018 start of the lobster season in southwestern Nova Scotia approaches, all of us at the Tri-County Vanguard and Salt Wire Network want to wish fishermen a safe and prosperous season.

TINA COMEAU TRICOUNTY VANGUARD

In this Lobster Fishing Outlook we present a variety of stories dealing with the industry, including its importance, its impact, its issues and its interesting facts.

REGIONAL

– Tina Comeau, editor

A lobster enters a lobster trap on the ocean bottom.

parts of Digby County.

LFA 33, which extends along the south shore of the province to Halifax, has 699 lobster licences and opens the same day, albeit an hour later.

Aside from being the largest

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lobster fishery in the country, the LFA 34 and 33 seasons are also the longest – running to May 31.

The lobster fishery continues to be the engine that drives the economy of southwestern Nova Scotia, with landed catch values

in the hundreds of millions.

Last year did see a drop in landings according to data that was presented at a fall lobster forum held in Yarmouth.

Whereas the landings in 20152016 in LFA 34 was 29,151 metric tonnes, in 2016-2017 it was said to be 21,993 metric tonnes. This was with about four to six per cent of missing logs.

In LFA 33 the landings were tabulated at 10,048 metric tonnes in 2015-2016 with 7,838 metric tonnes in 2016-2017. That was with data missing from four to seven per cent of logs.

KATHY JOHNSON

Fishing boats come and go from the Clark’s Harbour wharf with loads of traps during dumping day 2016.

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Wishing everyone in the Lobster Fishing Industry a Safe & Prosperous Season!

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Fishermen did see higher prices throughout much of last year’s season due to the supply and demand issue, with shore prices paid to fishermen still hovering at around $8 as the season drew to a close in May. On the market front, the live lobster export value has steadily increased since 2014 in markets such as China and South Korea. In China, for instance, the live export value increased from $67,134,304 in 2014 to $137,796,670 in 2016.

The United States remains the largest market with an export value of $505,921,726 in 2016.

Other export markets included Hong Kong, Belgium, United Kingdom, Japan, Taiwan and the Netherlands.

During the off-season there have been issues for the industry to contemplate, including one dealing with by-catch monitoring. DFO has proposed having a by-catch monitoring system in place by the fall of 2018.

Fishing associations in the region would rather see this be an industry-led initiative with the development of its own system that would be less costly and more convenient to fishermen as it wouldn’t include a hail out system.

Still on the subject of fishing associations, there has also been a big push to get fishing to join associations so the industry is more organized and can tackle issues collectively.

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The countdown is on as lobster fishermen continue to gear up for the start of the 2017-18 commercial lobster fishery off southwestern Nova Scotia.

If all goes according to plan weather wise, the season will begin on Monday, Nov. 27 with dumping day, which is the day trap-and-gear-laden vessels head to sea to dump their traps for the season.

This is the largest commercial lobster season in the country in terms of the number of boats, licences and people involved.

Lobster fishing area (LFA) 34 has 979 licences in it. This LFA takes in all of Yarmouth County, much of Shelburne County and

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LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK

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n OPENING DAY

SAR assets lined up for dumping day Patrolling on the sea and from the air KATHY JOHNSON TRICOUNTY VANGUARD REGIONAL

Inshore and offshore Search and Rescue (SAR) platforms will already be on the fishing grounds and in position when lobster fishermen in LFAs 33 and 34 head out to set their traps on dumping day.

A total of 12 dedicated SAR platforms along with two DFO patrol vessels that are SAR ‘go-to’ resources will be deployed in advance of the fleet leaving ports at 6 a.m. in LFA 34 and 7 a.m. in LFA 33, says Sean Arbour, Maritime Search and Rescue coordinator for the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre.

Starting with the three Canadian Coast Guard lifeboat stations along the coast – Sambro, Clark’s Harbour and West Port – the cutters will be deployed in advance of the shotgun start, with a second crew on standby at the life station base with a Fast Response Craft (FRC). “We will be double crewing all the life stations along the shore,�

Arbour says.

Offshore, the Canadian Coast Guard will station two large vessel platforms – one about 12 miles off Port Mouton and the other about 50 miles southwest of Yarmouth. Arbour says the Earl Grey and Edward Cornwallis will likely be the offshore vessels deployed. “We want to have a large platform capability if the weather is bad or gets really bad or a largescale event happens,� he says. “The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary is going to be playing a large part in the assets as they did last year,� says Arbour. Three vessels will be stationed on the fishing grounds off Port Mouton, Shelburne and Yarmouth counties.

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KATHY JOHNSON

A Cormorant helicopter drops a pump to the Canadian Coast Guard cutter Clark’s Harbour during a search-and-rescue exercise off West Head, Cape Sable Island, last fall.

BE AWARE

With almost 1,700 fishing vessels laden with lobster pots taking to the ocean at basically the same time on dumping day, Sean Arbour, Maritime Search and Rescue coordinator for the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, advises fishermen to have “situational awareness;� know who’s around them, who might get into trouble and keep a listen on channel 16.

“The Coast Guard Auxiliary helping definitely makes a huge difference,� says Arbour.

Also on the water will be three conservation and protection vessels in and around the area. Two of the vessels are primarily going to be doing fisheries patrols but will be a go-to SAR platform, if needed, says Arbour. The third

“Regardless of what happens, 14 SAR and patrol vessels on the water is quite a bit, but when there are 1,700 vessels going out for the fishing season a lot can happen at any given time,� he says. “And so we count on them helping themselves or helping those around them in an emergency situation.�

Arbour notes it is often another fishing vessel that can get to the scene first.

vessel will be a dedicated SAR platform. Those vessels will patrol where there is the highest density of marine traffic, likely off Shelburne County.

As for air assets, Arbour says a Cormorant helicopter will be deployed from Greenwood and placed on stand-by at the Yarmouth airport for dumping day,

which, weather permitting, takes place on the last Monday of November. “They are that much closer if any kind of response is needed,� says Arbour, adding the chopper can be airborne within 10 minutes. With the crew already in Yarmouth, he says, “They should be on scene in the area of responsibility within 20 to 25 minutes.�

Arbour says there is some consideration being given to having a second Cormorant on stand-by in Greenwood. “In previous years we have had only one available but this year we may have two,� he says. “We haven’t had the scenario yet where we need two Cormorants but it’s always good to have that.�

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Also in the air dumping day will be a Hercules fixed wing military aircraft that will be on patrol between Halifax and Digby following the shoreline. “They will be maintaining that patrol all day until the majority of fishing activity begins to slow down,� explains Arbour. “It’s typically eight to 10 hours of patrol.�

As always, Mother Nature dictates when it comes to dumping day. Any winds over 26 knots and the start will be delayed until better weather prevails. “Fishermen realize dumping day doesn’t go so well if you push the weather,� says Arbour. “Weather has been less of a risk factor the last few years because they don’t push it so that’s been great.�

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A4 n EDUCATION

TRICOUNTYVANGUARD.CA n OTHER SEASON

NSCC School of Fisheries ‘extremely busy’ KATHY JOHNSON TRICOUNTY VANGUARD

for training,� says Thompson.

The School of Fisheries was re-located to the Shelburne campus from Pictou about REGIONAL TJY ZFBST BHP “It was a very good move for us,� says There’s been no shortage of students 5IPNQTPO i8F LOPX JO TPVUIXFTUFSO at the Nova Scotia Community Campus Nova Scotia we have the richest fishing (NSCC) School of Fisheries these days. grounds so having the school of fisheries i8F WF CFFO FYUSFNFMZ CVTZ u TBZT .BSZ here has been well received. We’ve got Thompson, principal of Yarmouth and good space at the campus.�

Shelburne campuses. “Over the course of And by bringing it to Shelburne there are the year we have about 1,200 students go lots of opportunity for conductivity and it through the various programs� offered by also fits in nicely with the Nova Scotia Dethe school of fisheries. partment of Aquaculture, which is also While home base is at the Shelburne located at Shelburne Campus Thompson NSCC Campus, the School of Fisheries can FYQMBJOT deliver programming throughout the provThompson says over the course of the ince “wherever the demand is� with in- several years, the campus will see people structors using mobile training equipment DPNJOH JO UBLJOH XIBU UIFZ OFFE GPS QSFSARA ERICSSON to deliver the courses, says Thompson.

SFRVJTJUFT XPSLJOH UIFJS XBZ VQ UISPVHI Boats at the Digby Wharf loaded with traps and gear prior to the mid-October lobster fishery start “Seventy percent of what we do is in the system to get the training that they here. southwestern Nova Scotia,� she says. “We need.

SBO TJY ĂłTIJOH NBTUFS *7 DPVSTFT UIJT TVNiĂŽF DPSF PG PVS CVTJOFTT JT NBLJOH TVSF mer and fall. We had a course in Digby, one we can provide the needed training for our in Yarmouth and one in Shelburne. It’s a fishers current and the new ones coming very comprehensive program with over JOUP UIF JOEVTUSZ UP NBLF TVSF UIFZ IBWF 300 hours of training.â€? the certification they need to be able to go The School of Fisheries not only deliv- out on the water,â€? she says. ers courses for Transport Canada certifiThompson says the school of fisheries is DBUJPO TVDI BT ĂłTIJOH NBTUFST *** BOE *7 BMXBZT MPPLJOH BU OFX DPVSTFT BOE QBSUnavigational, radio communications and nerships. mandatory marine emergency courses, i3JHIU OPX XF SF KVTU SFBMMZ LFFQJOH VQ the NSCC also partners with the Nova Sco- with the demand for what’s out there betia Fisheries Sector Council in offering the cause as the industry changes, as people SARA ERICSSON Officers with the Department of TRICOUNTY VANGUARD Fisheries and Oceans also carried out lobster handling program and with the retire out and with new people coming up, boat inspections. According to the sector council and the Nova Scotia Fish- there is a need for our younger fishermen DIGBY Maritimes region’s Acting Director of eries Safety Association doing man over- UP HFU ĂłTIJOH NBTUFST *** BOE *7 u TIF TBZT $POTFSWBUJPO BOE 1SPUFDUJPO %FSFL board drills. “There is a constant feed through those While the largest lobster fishery in Parsons, officers carried out routine “We also have had industry come to us programs.â€? southwestern Nova Scotia is set to DIFDLT BU XIBSGT UP NPOJUPS BDUJWJUZ PQFO OFYU XFFL BOPUIFS GJTIFSZ JO UIJT GPMMPXFE XJUI NPSF SPVUJOF DIFDLT BT region has been underway since mid- UIF TFBTPO VOGPMEFE UP NBLF TVSF UIF October.

Fisheries Act and its regulations are LFA 35, which includes parts of Digby followed.

County and the upper Bay of Fundy, and “During an inspection multiple items CHARTERED PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS BMTP FYUFOET UP QBSUT PG /FX #SVOTXJDL BSF DIFDLFE 0GGJDFST MPPL UP FOTVSF UIBU got underway on Oct. 14. licenses and registration are in order, There was a lot of preparation involved that fishing gear, such as traps, meet Member of The AC Group of Independent Accounting Firms prior to the start of this season too. proper specifications and are properly Fisherman Chris Hersey is the cap- identified, and that fishers have their retain of the Miss Addie, and as the days RVJSFE MPH CPPLT BNPOH PUIFS UIJOHT u UJDLFE EPXO IF XBT QVUUJOH UIF GJOBM Parsons said. touches on the gear aboard his boat 8IJMF -'" JT LOPXO GPS XBUFST UIBU to get it ready for its first day on the MBDL UIF SPVHIOFTT PG PUIFS BSFBT EVNQJOH water this season.

EBZ IFSF JT TUJMM OPU XJUIPVU SJTLT HJWFO UIF He spent around 12 hours setting every- amount of gear on boats.

UIJOH VQ BOE NBEF TJY USVDL USJQT UP HFU “You have to be careful,� said Hersey. the gear down to the wharf. It’s a process i8FBS ZPVS MJGF KBDLFUT CF DBVUJPVT BOE each fisherman handles differently, said just be aware.�

Hersey.

The season here runs Oct. 14 to Dec. 31, i0OF HVZ TIPXFE VQ UXP XFFLT BHP *U T BOE UIFO QJDLT VQ BHBJO PO UIF MBTU EBZ PG different for everyone, and some people February until the end of July. are doing it earlier this year,� he had said Parts of Digby County fall in LFA 35 and at the time. other parts fall in LFA 34. %VNQJOH EBZ JO %JHCZ HPU PGG UP B Fishermen waiting the start of their seaB N TUBSU 6OMJLF -'"T BOE XIJDI son in southwestern Nova Scotia and along have a set departure time, the departure UIF QSPWJODF T TPVUI TIPSF BMXBZT LFFQ PO time in LFA 35 varies to follow half- eye on shore prices in LFA35 as an indicatide, or two hours before high water, UJPO PG XIBU UP FYQFDU XIFO UIFJS TFBTPO ensuring all boats within the zone have opens. enough time to get out and set their lines and traps.

(With files from Tina Comeau.)

Digby’s LFA 35 season already underway

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Season here opened in mid-October

All the best to the men and women who make their living on the water. We wish you a safe and prosperous lobster season!

Wishing a Safe & Prosperous Lobster Season to All! BARRINGTON 3289, HWY 3 Barrington Passage, NS B0W 1G0 (902) 637-1637 shelburne@bvca.ca

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LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK

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n TRADE DEAL

New EU free trade deal sent lobsters flying Busy times when tariff dropped AARON BESWICK SALT WIRE NETWORK Barely a week old this past fall and already Canada’s free trade deal with Europe was shaking up the business of shipping seafood across the Atlantic.

“Air Canada, Cargojet, West Jet . . . filled to capacity,” said Mike Wolthers in late September.

The vice-president of air freight for Kintetsu World Express was working the phone trying to find room in a plane’s cargo hold at Halifax Stanfield International Airport to send lobster to Europe.

“The anticipation, especially by the exporters, is that Europe is going to explode,” said Wolthers.

When the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) came into effect on Sept. 21, an

eight-per-cent tariff on lobster and a 7.5-per-cent tariff on snow crab heading to Europe dropped to zero overnight.

All seafood products now enter the European Union 96-per-cent tariff-free. It will become 100 per cent in seven years.

But they can’t from the United States – which doesn’t have a free trade deal with Europe.

“And we’re not about to get one,” said John Sackton, editor of Massachusetts-based industry publication Seafood.com With a protectionist administration in Washington having cancelled a free trade agreement between the economies of North America and Asia, and talks to salvage the North American Free Trade Agreement appearing to go off the rails, CETA is the one piece of good news in global seafood trade.

At least, it’s good news for Canadian seafood exporters.

“I’ve said all along that Can-

“The anticipation, especially by the exporters, is that Europe is going to explode.”

Mike Wolthers, vice-president of air freight for Kintetsu World Express ada had to diversify its seafood exports to more than the United States,” said Sackton.

Traditionally, the vast majority of Atlantic Canadian seafood went south to the American market. By 2014, according to provincial government figures, only 60 per cent of this province’s most valuable seafood export – lobster – was heading to the States.

That balance has continued to shift.

For all of 2009, Wolthers shipped 325,000 kilograms of seafood (primarily lobster) to Asia. This year, he was averaging 400,000-500,000 kilograms a month.

Now, both Sackton and Wolthers expect European consumption of all our seafood products to start growing fast as they

become cost-competitive across the Atlantic.

Beyond growth, there will also be changes in the way it gets to new markets.

Traditionally most lobster was trucked to the New England states, packaged and shipped to Europe. But because tariffs remain on American exports to Europe, most seafood is already starting to go directly from Canada.

Wolthers cautions that it probably won’t mean much of an increase in air traffic out of Halifax because lobster is not as profitable a cargo for airlines as human passengers or courier freight.

The increase, he said, will be in truck traffic taking seafood to Montreal and Toronto to fill excess cargo capacity in those

flights heading to Europe. Species that are processed and frozen, like snow crab, will travel by ship because it is cheaper.

And it also probably won’t mean higher prices to lobster fishermen at the wharf.

By the time the lucrative season in LFAs 34 and 33 closed last May in southwest Nova Scotia, buyers were paying $8 a pound – the highest they have ever paid in the spring.

The price was so high that McDonald’s cancelled its McLobster sandwich, which usually consumed three million pounds of lobster meat a year.

Other big buyers, like Subway and Sobeys, also reined themselves in, said Stewart Lamont, owner of Tangier Lobster.

“Some kind of adjustment will take place,” said Lamont.

But in the long run, he said, the increased demand will be good for everybody – including fishermen.

Best Wishes

for a Safe & Successful Season

We’ll see you when you’re back on shore!

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TRICOUNTYVANGUARD.CA

n LOOKING BACK

Past lobster season starts Looking back on some previous dumping days TINA COMEAU TRICOUNTY VANGUARD REGIONAL

Sometimes the opening of lobster fishing off southwestern Nova Scotia goes off without a hitch. And sometimes not.

Here’s a look at some past season openings over the years.

2016: One-day delay High winds on the last Monday of November postponed the start of last year’s season to the following day. Throughout the season fishermen saw high prices that continued to its end. During the week prior to the season wrapping up fishermen were still being paid $8 a pound for catches, but that’s because not as many lobsters had been landed during the season. Usually the end-of-season shore price is in the $4 to $5 range.

2015: Good start, good price The lobster season got off to a good start with decent opening-day weather and, better yet, a better price than in previous years. Fishermen were being paid around $6 a pound for their landings.

2014: Six-day weather delay After being delayed six days due to the weather, the lobster season in LFA 34, which takes in all of Yarmouth County and chunks of Shelburne and Digby counties, finally got underway the morning of Saturday, Nov. 29.

The neighbouring LFA 33 district went with a Friday, Nov. 28 start. It was the second year in a row that strong winds delayed the opening. The season should have started Nov. 24.

2012: Should have stayed home Days into the start of the lobster fishery many people were saying that fishermen should have heeded the warnings and uncertainty over price and waited to dump their traps at sea. Fishermen hauling in catches were only getting paid $3 a pound and there was a fear the price would drop more. At a Dec. 5 meeting on the Yarmouth wharf, a newsletter was informally distributed containing the heading “Uniting is the key.” But that was the problem, said

TINA COMEAU

It was a smooth sailing under calm conditions leaving wharfs in southwestern Nova Scotia in 2016.

fishermen. While everyone agreed they didn’t like the price, the fishermen were not united.

2008: Stay or go?

After a lot of debate, a lot of meetings and a lot of anxiety, it was decided to go with the Nov. 24 start of the lobster season in 2008.

Given the early start because of where the last Monday of November fell on the calendar, some thought doing postponing the season start would generate a price advantage, while others just wanted to get on with fishing.

The one area where the was strong agreement was no Sunday fishing for the duration of the season.

2009: Sundays – yes or no?

In the weeks leading up to the start of the lobster fishery, lobster licence holders voted on whether they wanted to give lobster landings a break for one day during each week of the upcoming commercial lobster season. The intention was not to flood the market with a glut of lobster.

The year before there was no Sunday fish-

To all our fishermen friends, we wish you all a safe season and thank you for your patronage.

ing the first three weekends of the season for much the same reason. But that hadn’t given fishermen the prices they were hoping for.

questions, particularly when it came to food, social and ceremonial purposes. Still, even in the year 2017, there are questions that remain by non-aboriginal fishers.

2000: Season opening, election day Grey skies, drizzle and a forecast of an easterly gale set the stage for the season’s opening. The day got off to a quiet and safe start. Included in the season were 12 licences being fished by the Acadia First Nation, which had signed an interim fishing agreement with DFO that month, following six months of negotiations.

Dumping day was also the day of the 2000 federal election. How many fishermen went to the polls to cast ballots was unknown, but it’s a pretty safe bet voter turnout within the industry was down, given that fishermen were busy with the start of the fishery.

1995: Vessels sink, crews rescued Very early on the sea claimed two vessels south of Yarmouth on the opening day of the season. The crew of the Simon Jacques out of Lower Wedgeport had to abandon their boat and were picked up by the nearby fishing vessel Lady Wallace.

And four crewmembers were plucked from a liferaft and hoisted aboard a Labrador helicopter when their vessel, the Lady Candace fishing from Abbotts Harbour, had to abandon their boat after it started taking on water. The Rescue Coordination Centre said the crew was suffering from various stages of hypothermia.

1997: Illegal fishing concerns Some discontent rocked the lobster industry in the preseason this year. Issues with illegal fishing had many of the fisherman worried that they wouldn’t be getting their fair share during the lobster season.

Fishermen also wanted a clear indication regarding aboriginal fishers. They wanted to know whether aboriginal fishers had the right to fish year-round and whether they were allowed to sell what they caught. A Supreme Court decision – the Marshall decision – two years later spelled out the answers to a lot of these

1991: Price too low, we won’t go In a matter of hours, a handful of fishermen organized a fleet tie-up that kept nearly 1,000 lobster vessels in port a week into the lobster fishery. And that number was expected to keep growing. Fishermen were protesting the low price they were being offered, which hovered around the $2.50 mark. Some fishermen even noted fishermen in Grand Manan were getting a better price. There they were being paid $3.50 a pound.

Continued on A7

TINA COMEAU

A meeting takes place on the Yarmouth waterfront days into the start of the 2012 lobster season.

Fishermen were not happy they were only getting paid $3 a pound for their catches, amid fear the price could drop even more.

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LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK

A7

Past lobster season CONT. FROM A6

1991: Rallying to aid fishermen The probability of taking part in the fall lobster fishery seemed slim for some Port Clyde lobster fishermen after a Nov. 21 fire destroyed their boat, lobster gear and the entire Cape Negro Wharf. But Shelburne County residents rallied for the fishermen with offers of fishing gear and a boat to use and the fishermen, Bill and Rob Williams, got to set their traps with everyone else when the season opened.

1986: “As good as last year�

The first week of the fishery was hampered by bad weather, but in Shelburne County fishermen claimed the harvest was “as good as last year’s.� The price settled at $3.25 and $3.50 per pound.

1972: Restaurants couldn’t afford to buy lobsters A lobster boat made front page news on Nov. 22, 1972, when it caught fire. The headline read: “Fire destroys $15,000 lobster boat.� The 40-foot, fibreglass-built boat was brand new.

The value was quite different compared to what boats are worth nowadays – with many new ones costing half a million dollars or more.

As for the price of lobsters as the season got underway, a newspaper article stated: “The price opened at an all-time high of $1 per pound to the fishermen.� Later in the winter the price climbed to over $2 per pound. It was reported that these prices were so expensive that restaurants couldn’t afford to buy lobsters.

1970: Complaints about unfair advantage Although the season got off to a good start weather-wise, two vessels fishing out of Wedgeport, Yarmouth County, were swamped with water. The vessels lost their traps but there was no loss of life. One of the boats was towed to Harry’s Island, where a bucket brigade of 20 fishermen helped to bail it out.

Meanwhile, the federal fisheries minister had received complaints about auxiliary boats transporting

VANGUARD FILE PHOTO

Not much more room for lobster traps on the wharf in Woods Harbour prior to the season start in 1970 when lobster catches fetched highs of $1 a pound.

traps to the fishing grounds. People complained that it was unfair since those who could afford to pay the hiring charges for larger boats could gain an advantage over the majority of the fishermen. Said Fisheries Minister Jack Davis: “Large boats, not registered as lobster vessels, are not allowed to engage in this practice.�

1966: Opening price 65 cents to $1 The year 1966 saw beautiful openingday weather, with temperatures soaring above normal and calm seas. The opening price was to be anywhere between 65 cents a pound and a dollar a pound. The opening price the previous year was said to have been a “recordbreaking� 90 cents a pound. The record-breaking high before that had been 65 cents a pound. You couldn’t be on a lobster boat without a fishing licence.

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A8

LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK t 8&%/&4%": /07&.#&3

53*$06/5:7"/(6"3% $"

n BOATBUILDING

Keeping up with boatbuilding demand Bigger, more complex boats take longer to build JAMES RISDON SALTWIRE NETWORK Wedgeport Boats is boosting its production capacity and hiring more employees to meet the strong demand for modern lobster-fishing boats.

Fraser Challoner, the boatyard’s general manager, said in an interview Wedgeport Boats is more than doubling the size of one of its finishing bays, growing it by roughly 3,500 square feet. “It’ll increase our production capacity by 25 per cent by the end of this month,� said Challoner.

A finishing bay is the area in a boatyard where the empty hull of a ship is equipped with, well, everything. Walls, floors, the engines, doors, windows, and fishing and communications equipment are all added at this stage. The company has also upped the size of the area it has available to park boats on shore while they await repairs or upgrades.

The expansion to the production facility will mean more jobs. “We employ around 30 and when we open this other bay we could employ another five or six people,� said Challoner.

COMPLEX AND LARGER BOATS The challenge for Nova Scotia’s boatyards – some industry insiders say the biggest challenge – is finding those employees to build increasingly complex and larger lobster-fishing boats. “Boatbuilders are looking at replacing wood with some composite panels for deckhouses,� said Tim Edwards, executive director of the Nova Scotia Boatbuilders Association. “Many lobster boats are being fitted with live wells – to help improve the quality of landed catch.

A new vessel that’s been under construction at Wedgeport Boats.

“Because the boats are bigger and more complex than they were even five to eight years ago, they are taking longer to build,� he said. “So, a boatyard that used to build 12 boats a year 10 years ago may only build five a year now with the same number of employees. To increase the number of boats they can build per year, yards have to increase their workforce and facilities.�

The 41-member boatbuilders association has been working hard to encourage high school students to get into the industry and has even helped develop two new apprenticeship programs – the boat builder and marine service technician pro-

grams – to do that. “Young people entering the workforce now have the option of following a structured training and learning plan that, on successful completion, earns them a journeyperson certificate from the Province of Nova Scotia,� said Edwards.

Although boatbuilding is still a largely male-dominated industry, women are making inroads. At Wedgeport, about 20 per cent of the employees are women. At A.F. Theriault & Son, that figure is about seven per cent.

On the sprawling grounds of the A.F. Theriault boatyard off the Evangeline Trail in Meteghan River, managing director Gilles Theriault has grown his workforce by about 9.4 per cent, to 175 employees, in the past year alone. Although lobster-fishing boats only account for less than 15 per cent of that boatyard’s revenues, it’s clear the strong demand from the lobster-fishing industry for bigger and more modern vessels has fuelled growth at A.F. Theriault as well.

Last year, the number of people employed in the boatbuilding sector, which includes builders, repairers and service providers, jumped by 11 per cent over the previous year to hit 1,350.

STEADY GROWTH That wasn’t a surprise. The industry in Nova Scotia has seen steady growth in employment since 2009 and a boom since mid-2014. “The lobster fishery is the main economic driver for Nova Scotia’s boatbuilding industry. It has been for the last five years and it will probably be for the next five years,â€? said Edwards. “The market is good ‌ Nova Scotia lobster is hard to beat.â€?

At Wedgeport Boats, there are orders for lobster boats for the next two years and some boatyards have a backlog stretching out as much as four years, said Challoner. “There’s been an increase in the catch.

The Chinese market has opened up ‌ Everything came together right (about three years ago),â€? he said. “The U.S. dollar increased substantially so we had a lot of American lobster fishermen buying the second-hand boats. They were flying out the door.â€?

Modern lobster fishing is no longer done primarily with the plywood-and-paint boats that plied Nova Scotia’s waters a few generations ago.

To our fishers: “May the winds be light, your traps be full and your feet stay clear of the ropes.�

4

TINA COMEAU

things TO KNOW

boats are bigger and more com1 Because plex than they were even five to eight

2 3 4

years ago, they are taking longer to build.

The industry in Nova Scotia has seen steady growth in employment since 2009 and a boom since mid-2014.

Although boatbuilding is still a largely male-dominated industry, women are making inroads.

Last year, the number of people employed in the boatbuilding sector, which includes builders, repairers and service providers, jumped by 11 per cent over the previous year to hit 1,350.

“In the lobster-fishing industry, the boats have become quite big,â€? said Theriault. “The orders to build them are still there but, because the boats are now bigger, it is getting harder to build as many of them ‌. They are certainly more expensive.â€?

CHANGES IN INDUSTRY There are different types of lobster-fishing boats and so each style has changed in different ways. One of them has seen its width increase by 50 per cent to about 30 feet. These boats have bigger engines and are made with new composite materials, which are lighter. They are also equipped with modern electronics and lobster-fishing equipment, bedrooms and showers, and satellite television. “The newer boats have better systems to keep the landed catch fresher to ensure that what they drop on the wharf is the highest quality,â€? said Edwards. “The old boats aren’t big enough in many cases (to accommodate the newer equipment) ‌ and the fishermen like to get to their grounds as fast as they can and older boats aren’t as fast.â€?

The trade-off, though, is the price. As the boats have gotten bigger, more technical and powerful, and equipped with better equipment, their price has also gone up.

A basic lobster-fishing boat in 2004 might have cost $400,000; today, the bigger and better boat that’s the new standard will go for about $900,000, said Challoner.

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LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK

A9

n ORGANIZATIONS

Importance of fisheries organizations stressed Fishermen encouraged to join organizations TINA COMEAU TRICOUNTY VANGUARD REGIONAL

Although they fish as part of crews, fishermen are also known to be an independent bunch – with each fishing vessel its own enterprise on the sea.

But when it comes to issues facing the industry, they affect fishermen collectively and collective approaches are needed to deal with them, which is why over and over the importance of belonging to fishing organizations is stressed to fishermen.

That message was once again delivered at a fall lobster forum in Yarmouth.

The overall goals of organizations are to represent the needs of fishermen, to generate the most value possible from the fishing resources and to have a safe and sustainable industry.

“A strong fishery will allow young fishermen and entrepreneurs the opportunity to stay in Nova Scotia and will help rural communities thrive economically,” said fisherman Bernie Berry of the Coldwater Lobster Association.

There are many lobster associations in southwestern Nova Scotia. While ideally representatives of these groups would like fishermen to join their association, most importantly they want fishermen to join an association.

Berry said there are always a number of issues facing the in-

PHOTOS BY TINA COMEAU

From left to right: Judith Maxwell of the Scotia Fundy Inshore Fishermen’s Association, Bernie Berry of the Coldwater Lobster Association and Graeme Gawn of the MFU.

dustry that will impact fishermen in the future. The goal of fishing organizations is to be proactive, as opposed to reactive, when it comes to these issues.

Fisherman Graeme Gawn comes from an organization that had its beginnings in the 1970s, when a bunch of small associations decided they needed to unite to get things done. They formed the MFU. “Since that time, in the last 40 years, all of the significant gains for inshore fishermen have come as a result of fishermen working together,” he said. “Whether

it’s small groups, big groups, you cannot do it alone. We can’t make any headway as individuals without associations.”

To quote the cliché, Gawn said, “United we stand and divided we fall. One way or another, we’ve got to work together. If you look at any areas where we’ve made gains it is because of fishermen working together.”

And also because of organizations working together, he said.

Judith Maxwell is a fixed gear representative with the Scotia Fundy Inshore Fishermen’s Association. She’s located in Clark’s

Harbour, but her coverage area goes from Sambro to Yarmouth.

“The issues now are diverse and they’re increasing everyday,” she said, adding associations like hers have also helped fishermen adapt to changes in licensing, tags, etc.

Maxwell describes herself as someone who is generally not at a loss for words, and that is especially true when she speaks about the importance of fishing organizations.

“Regarding lobster issues, you have to be organized. You’ve got to have a unified voice and you

have to pick topics you can stay unified on,” she said.

Lobster fishing areas 33, 34 and 35 are diverse and large, she said.

Given this, there is no way that everyone is always going to agree.

But issues facing the industry – whether they be wind turbines, controlling agreements, by-catch monitoring, marine protected areas, etc. – are growing everyday.

“You need input from the fishermen and we need you to help us move forward,” she said.

“There will always be more issues.”

n AWARENESS

Make your voices heard Many issues and battles facing the fisheries TINA COMEAU TRICOUNTY VANGUARD REGIONAL

Fisherman Colin Sproule says long gone are the days when the biggest competition to fishermen was the other boat on the horizon.

Now, he says, they’re your allies.

“The real adversary is sitting somewhere in a boardroom right now,” he said. “The only future for this industry is for lobstermen to speak and act as one. But what we say must be thought out very carefully.”

Sproule made these remarks while speaking on the importance of fishing organizations in today’s fishing industry. The Digby County fisherman is a representative of the Bay of Fundy Inshore Fishermen’s Association. Issues his organization has been most recently actively involved in – and been vocal about – are wind turbines and offshore drilling.

“Anyone can go online where (companies) have to disclose their lobbying activities. Try it and you might not like what you see,” he said, referring to attempts to relax regulations even further for offshore drilling, or attempts to change the definition of critical habitat or groups looking to carve a berth for themselves in fishing areas.

“These lobbyists go to see bureaucrats, MLAs and MPs with shiny new scientific and economic studies and tell them about how their clients’ projects will help the economy in Nova Scotia,” said Sproule.

“But all the while our value, inarguably the most important industry in Nova Scotia, gets ignored. Our billion-dollar industry that has created so much prosperity has no voice in the places where it counts the most.”

Sproule says fishermen debating issues amongst themselves on wharfs doesn’t result in any action. The industry has to bring its voice forward.

If industry wants government support, he cautions, it also needs public support.

“Although it may not always seem like it, governments definitely pay attention to public opinion,” he said. “When it comes to environmental issues and other things that grab the public’s attention around the lobster industry, we must come down on the right side of those issues.”

The team at Yarmouth Nissan extend heartfelt wishes for a safe and abundant Lobster season

TINA COMEAU

Digby County fishermen Colin Sproule says industry needs its voice to be heard.

But even that’s not enough, he said.

Sproule said the lobster industry needs to educate the government and the public on its work and its importance.

“In southwestern Nova Scotia it is the economy,” he said, but when he went to Ottawa last year to speak on one of the issues facing the industry he was asked more than once to present his economic study that clearly defined the value of the industry.

“I didn’t have one and they couldn’t believe it,” he said.

So why not? Solutions the industry needs don’t come cheap, he said.

“Our associations can only do so much individually without human resources that we don’t have,” he said. “We have to move forward together. We have to pool our resources when the situation calls for it. We have to stick together no matter what. It works for farmers and it’ll work for fishermen too.”

There is one thing Sproule is certain of.

“If we all choose to focus on things that divide us, things won’t happen,” he said.

“What will help is to put aside our differences and choose to focus on issues that are important to all lobster fishermen.”

His advice: join an association.

“Let’s have the voice that we deserve together,” he said.

7556319

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LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK t 8&%/&4%": /07&.#&3

TRICOUNTYVANGUARD.CA

n SHOWING SUPPORT

Dumping day send-off tradition

TINA COMEAU

Lobster vessels steam past the Cape Forchu lighthouse in Yarmouth County during a previous dumping day.

Cape Forchu tradition sees supporters sending fleet off with lights and prayers CARLA ALLEN TRICOUNTY VANGUARD YARMOUTH

In keeping with years of tradition, the annual dumping day event at the Yarmouth Lighthouse will start at 5 a.m. on dumping day.

Providing the weather allows for the scheduled start of the season on the last Monday of November, this means a Nov. 27 send-off.

Dumping day refers to the start of the season when lobster fishermen “dump� their traps at sea.

The largest lobster fishery in Canada is the one that sees lobster fishing areas (LFAs) 33 and 34 open at the end of November and run to May 31.

The community event at the Cape Forchu Lighthouse has become a popular way of showing support to the fishing industry, with participants bringing their flashlights to the lighthouse on the morning of dumping day.

As the long parade of boats, loaded

heavily with traps, departs Yarmouth Harbour, people wave their lights in support.

Many of the captains toot their horns in return.

Hot drinks and muffins will be available at the lighthouse for a donation to the Friends of the Yarmouth Light.

Memberships to the Friends of the Yarmouth Lighthouse society and items from the gift shop will be available on a cash purchase basis.

A blessing of the fleet will be delivered on VHS radio channel 68 by Reverend Bill Newell and the broadcast is also heard over Y95 CJLS radio.

Depending on the weather, part of the event may be visible on a live webcam at www.novascotiawebcams.com It will take at least half an hour for the Yarmouth Harbour lobster fishing fleet (approximately 115) from the Yarmouth waterfront and the Yarmouth Bar to leave for the fishing grounds staring at 6 a.m.

Should the start of the LFA 33/34 season be postponed, the send off will be rescheduled to coincide.

CARLA ALLEN

Supporters of the lobster fishing industry gather at the Cape Forchu Lightstation each year on Dumping Day morning to send the fishing fleet off with lights and cheering.

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LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK

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n REFLECTIONS

Size matters: The lobster fishery – then and now “My grandfather started lobster fishing in 1898 when he was 13 years old, dory fishing with his father. At that time there was no size limit and most of their day’s catches went to the canning factories.”

Laurent d’Entremont Stories from our Past

Lobster fishermen in my area will be monitoring lobster catches and market pricing in the earlier season as an inkling of what to expect in our fishery.

The early lobster season, which includes the Hall’s Harbour area and the shores along Annapolis and Kings County, and parts of Digby County, begins a few weeks before it does in my southwestern part of the province.

They also keep an eye out to what’s happening in Maine.

As we all know, the lobster industry is an important one, also a complicated and risky one at times. We need buyers and sellers and the buyer is also a seller until the product reaches the consumer.

My grandfather started lobster fishing in 1898 when he was 13 years old, dory fishing with his father. At that time there was no size limit and most of their day’s catches went to the canning factories.

There was no need to hold lobsters in those days. Over time, lobster boats had ‘one banger motors’ for power and still later were equipped with automobile motors.

Catches increased significantly and they had to find an efficient way of holding, transporting and marketing lobster as the canning factories were mostly being replaced by the live lobster busi-

TINA COMEAU

Boats loaded up with lobster traps hours before the start of a previous season.

ness.

At first a ‘lobster smack,’ usually a lobster boat, was moored not far from shore and fishermen would unload their catches at the end of the fishing day. Later a truck would transport the crustaceans to market, usually to a nearby lobster holding pound or to the ‘Boston boat’ in Yarmouth where they continued on their way to the Boston market next day.

This worked well until catches kept getting bigger. And with increased technology, boats were getting bigger and much better equipped.

Sometimes fishermen, and also buyers, wanted to hold live lobster until the price increased, if they were lucky. Many times the

catches were bigger than what could be handled in one day, so the buyer would tie wooden lobster crates, either to the lobster smack or to the wharf, where they floated freely until market day. Unprotected, I don’t remember even one lobster crate being stolen during my childhood days.

Today we have a tower at Dennis Point Wharf with a night watchman, with communication devices, manning a powerful spotlight to discourage any would-be thief. This spotlight can reach the lobster holding cars tied at the wharf.

A lobster car? What the heck is that? A lobster car is simply a floating platform, or dock, with a little building on top where the buyer and seller do their busi-

Wishing All Our Fishermen a Safe & Prosperous Season Photo courtesy of Carla Allen

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ness. Underneath this long and narrow floating platform are holding compartments where lobster crates are placed in circulating water until they are loaded into huge trucks for the world market. At the start of the lobster season, lobster crates don’t stay there very long as they are shipped on a daily basis.

These lobster cars are still popular today, but we also have tank houses where lobsters are held in a totally different manner. What is a tank house you may ask? Lots of people are better qualified to describe a tank house than I am, but having visited a few at different locations, I can describe what I observed.

A tank house is a big building with a large swimming pool, so

to speak, inside where lobsters are kept alive with ocean water that flows in and out through bio-filtration systems. Some lobsters are kept in crates, but I was impressed that one method was to keep selected high-quality lobsters in PVC tubes or very small cages holding just one lobster each. These lobsters, held in salt water, are not fed and will purge themselves in a matter of days. Of course there is a whole lot more to tank houses than what I have just described, including the water that has to be chilled to a certain degree to keep the crustaceans inactive.

The lobster industry developed and grew especially during my lifetime. All day long during the season I see huge transport trucks going by our house loaded with lobster crates. Some destined for the Halifax airport, to be flown to China.

I’m sure my grandfather – who lobster fished most of his working life, tying lobster crates to the wharf as a holding method – never in his wildest dreams could have imagined how huge this fishery would become. laudent@hotmail.com

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LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK t 8&%/&4%": /07&.#&3

A12

53*$06/5:7"/(6"3% $"

14c 14b

Quebec

3

15 14a

16

4

18 ce ren

5

Gander

r ive

Anticosti Island

19

R

17

aw t. L

S

13b

6

Newfoundland

Corner Brook

7

Gulf of St. Lawrence

Quebec

13a

20a

St. John’s

20b 21

23 in

Pr

25

New Brunswick

Magdalen Island

22

24 ce E d w a r d I s la n d

Charlottetown

36

30

31a

Nova Scotia

35

37

Halifax

31b

32

38

imit

L hore

Offs

41

Sable Island

Lobster Fishing District in Atlantic Canada

33

Yarmouth

34

Atlantic Ocean

41

8

9

Sydney

29

Saint John

10

28

Fredericton

U.S.

11

27

26b

26a

Moncton

12

St. Paul’s Island

40

Seasons 3-8

17

27

April 20 – July 15

June 5 – August 5

May 15 – July 15

9-12

18

28

April 20 – July 30

May 20 – July 31

May 9 – July 9

13a-13b

19/21

29

36-37

April 20 – July 5

May 9 – July 9

May 10 - July 10

March 31 – June 29 and 2nd Tuesday in November – January 14

14a-14b-14c

20a/22/23/ 24/26a/26b

30

38

May 5 – July 10

April 30 – June 30

May 19 – July 20

15

20b

31a

40

June 1 – August 12

May 8 – July 7

April 29 – June 30

Closed to inshore-offshore lobster fishing

16

25

31b-32

41

May 20 – August 10

August 9 – October 10

April 19 – June 20

33-34

Last Monday in November – May 31 35

Last day Feb – July 31 and October 14 – December 31

2nd Tuesday in November – June 29

Area open all year

Note: Minimum size of lobster varies by district

TIDE

times

Nov. 27 to Dec. 8

SHELBURNE LOW 8:33 9:35 10:34 11:29 12:23 12:32 1:23 2:13 3:05 3:59 4:58 5:58

HIGH 2:30 3:24 4:17 5:09 5:59 6:48 7:37 8:25 9:15 10:08 11:03 12:01

LOW HIGH 9:02 2:26 9:55 3:29 10:48 4:37 11:41 5:39 6:34 1:15 7:25 2:07 8:16 2:59 9:09 3:50 10:03 4:43 10:58 5:39 11:53 6:38

27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9:35 10:36 11:32 12:23 12:33 1:20 2:06 2:52 3:40 4:29 5:21 6:16

3:42 4:38 5:32 6:23 7:11 7:58 8:44 9:31 10:18 11:06 11:58 12:42

9:59 10:53 11:44 1:10 1:57 2:44 3:33 4:22 5:12 6:05 6:59

LOCKEPORT 3:58 4:58 5:52 6:46 7:38 8:29 9:20 10:10 10:59 11:50

27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

12:53

8:50 9:51 10:47 11:39 12:29 12:37 1:24 2:11 2:59 3:50 4:43 5:42

2:28 3:25 4:21 5:14 6:04 6:52 7:39 8:26 9:13 10:02 10:52 11:45

YARMOUTH 9:15 10:09 11:00 11:49 1:18 2:06 2:54 3:44 4:35 5:28 6:24

2:31 3:36 4:40 5:39 6:35 7:27 8:18 9:08 9:58 10:49 11:42

27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

10:44 11:39 12:01 12:51 1:40 2:30 3:19 4:10 5:03 5:58 6:56 7:56

4:37 5:31 6:23 7:13 8:03 8:52 9:43 10:34 11:27 12:03 12:59 1:57

DIGBY 11:10

4:56 5:53 12:33 6:48 1:25 7:41 2:15 8:33 3:06 9:24 3:57 10:16 4:49 11:09 5:42 6:37 12:21 7:35 1:17 8:34 2:16

27 11:41 28 12:08 29 1:03 30 1:57 1 2:48 2 3:38 3 4:28 4 5:18 5 6:09 6 7:02 7 7:57 8 8:54

5:26 6:22 7:17 8:09 8:59 9:48 10:38 11:28 12:20 12:50 1:44 2:41

5:50 12:38 6:47 1:33 7:42 2:25 8:35 3:16 9:26 4:07 10:16 4:57 11:06 5:48 11:57 6:40 7:33 1:13 8:28 2:08 9:25 3:05

n DID YOU KNOW?

Species at a glance

Some facts about lobster

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259 Pleasant St., Yarmouth

902-742-6911

www.speedyglass.ca

7561100

27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

CLARK’S HARBOUR

Lobster is Canada’s most valuable seafood export and an iconic Canadian species exported around the world.

The majority (around 78%) of Canadian lobster exports are destined for the United States. Other key markets include Asia (Japan and China) and the European Union (Belgium, France). Lobster is also exported to an additional 50 countries.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada manages 45 lobster fisheries, in which 10,000 licensed harvest-

ers across Atlantic Canada and Quebec participate. Lobsters are caught using baited traps placed on the bottom of the sea. Overall, lobster populations in Canada are healthy and sustainably managed.

Conservation measures are tailored to meet the unique needs of each lobster fishery. Commonly used measures include: r MJNJUT UP UIF OVNCFS PG MJDFODFT r USBQ MJNJUT JO UIJT óTIFSZ JU T 375 at the start of the season) r MFOHUI PG óTIJOH TFBTPOT UIJT

fishery runs the last Monday or November to May 31) r MPCTUFS TJ[F SFTUSJDUJPOT r W OPUDIJOH UP QSPUFDU FHH bearing females, r USBQ EFTJHOT UIBU BMMPX VOEFSTJ[FE MPCTUFST UP FTDBQF BOE UIBU include biodegradable escape panels to ensure traps lost at sea will not continue catching lobsters and other species, r POHPJOH NPOJUPSJOH BOE FOforcement of fishing regulations and licence conditions.

TRICOUNTYVANGUARD.CA

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2017 t

LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK

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n LIKE FAMILY

Working with four generations After nearly 50 years, Nancy d’Entremont is getting set to retire KATHY JOHNSON TRICOUNTY VANGUARD WEST PUBNICO

Through four generations and almost 50 years, Nancy d’Entremont has seen a lot of changes as bookkeeper for Inshore Fisheries Ltd. in West Pubnico, Yarmouth County.

FIRST GENERATION D’Entremont began her career with Inshore Fisheries in February 1969, working for Mercedes d’Entremont and her business partner Lester d’Entremont.

“The office was in her house,” recalls d’Entremont. And the pay was good. “I started at $40 a week.”

In those days, buying and selling lobsters was the main focus of the company.

“It was very different than it is today,” says d’Entremont. “When we did payroll, it was all cash. We had to figure out how many $20s, $10s, $5s and how many coin to get and go to the bank and get it. We paid everything with cash.

“We had a plant in Jordan Bay and we would send the driver down with a bag of cash. We KATHY JOHNSON always had these big amounts of cash to deal Nancy d’Entremont, long-time bookkeeper for Inshore Fisheries in West Pubnico, Yarmouth County, poses with the fourth generation of the family with. If we tried to do that today, it would take she has worked with during her career. From left: George, Andre and Marc d’Entremont. forever, of course they weren’t making the money they do today, and the catches were eration of d’Entremonts to take over the She will be officially retiring in Febru- working with a fourth generation of the nothing comparted to what they are today.” helm at Inshore Fisheries with four cousins ary, 2018, marking 49 years as the book- d’Entremont family; Shawn’s two sons With lobsters fetching about 50 cents Shawn (Eric’s son) Jean Guy (Larry’s son) keeper for Inshore Fisheries, but not before Marc and George, and Yvon’s son Andre. a pound back then it certainly was a very and Yvon and Claude (Bernadin’s sons). different type of fishing than it is now, says After a few years Jean Guy left so it was the She’s like family d’Entremont. three of them for many years.

Getting used to a computer was a big Over the years, Inshore Fisheries has to operate the business.

Nancy d’Entremont has worked with four change, she says. Aside from dealing in cash, grown into one of Yarmouth County’s largenerations of the d’Entremont family at THIRD GENERATION back in the day all the ledgers and books were gest employers, with close to 100 employInshore Fisheries.

By the 1980s the next generation took kept by hand so it meant a lot of writing. ees on shore and on the water.

FIRST GENERATION over the helm at Inshore Fisheries with “Now it’s all computerized,” says “Our captains have been the same capShe began her career with Inshore Fisherfour cousins Shawn (Eric’s son) Jean Guy d’Entremont. “Even in the plant itself, our tains for many years,” says d’Entremont. ies in February 1969, working for Mercedes (Larry’s son) and Yvon and Claude (Bernamachines to cut fish over the years have “We don’t have a big turnover on our d’Entremont and her business partner Lesdin’s sons). improved,” as has the freezers, ice plants boats.” ter d’Entremont. and other components.

In the plant there are about 75 people FOURTH GENERATION employed year-round, but as is the nature SECOND GENERATION The fourth generation to come on board SECOND GENERATION of the fishing industry, it all depends on the Mercedes’ three sons Larry, Eric and Bernawas Shawn’s two sons Marc and George, Mercedes’ three sons Larry, Eric and weather related. If the boats can’t go out, din were the next generation of the family and Yvon’s son Andre.

Bernadin were the next generation of the there’s no work. family to operate Inshore Fisheries.

Throughout the decades, and the business’s “Larry ran the fresh fish plant so he family generations, d’Entremont has been a wasn’t right with us in the lobsters,” says constant in the office for Inshore Fisheries. d’Entremont. “The other two boys were in “I’ve enjoyed my work. They are a great the lobsters.” bunch of guys to work with. They’re very During the 1970s, the company got out accommodating, very good. I can’t speak of the lobster buying business as well as highly enough of them,” she says. “Obsalt fish production, and concentrated viously, they’re doing something good if I their efforts on fresh fish production. stayed here this many years.”

D’Entremont made the move to the office The feeling is mutual. at the plant on the Dennis Point wharf. The “She’s been a loyal employee forever,” main species processed at the time was says Shawn d’Entremont. “She might know yellow tail flounder. us better than we know ourselves because “That was our big thing for many years. It I’ve never known anybody in this capwasn’t haddock,” says d’Entremont. “After acity except Nancy since I started. When Georges Bank got divided, it seems all the we come to work we never have to worry yellow tail flounder stayed on their (U.S.) about the office. We could concentrate on side more than they stayed on our side. the other things we had to do. The adminNow we do a lot of haddock. We have three istration was well taken care of. We never boats, draggers, and buy a lot of fish from had any problems. That means a lot.” other plants that don’t do processing.”

When asked if Nancy is like family, “AbThe haddock is processed into fillets and solutely,” says Shawn. a lot is sold locally to restaurants as well “She’s very close to our workers as well. as local major grocery chains like Sobeys. Our workers see her a close friend, the capSome is also shipped to Boston and as far tains, especially, who have been with us for as Ontario. many years. She’s a very good listener and “We used to freeze a lot of fish,” says caring person. A good sounding board. It’s d’Entremont. “We still freeze a bit but going to be different that’s for sure.” nothing like we used to do.”

FOURTH GENERATION THIRD GENERATION The difference he talks about is when By the 1980s it was time for the next gen- Nancy leaves.

CRT SEAFOODS LTD 1943 nEWELLton, SHELB. co. nS

We would like to wish All The Best to all lobster fishermen in the 2017/2018 Lobster Season and a Safe and Bountiful Catch.

902 635-0774

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Pierce Fisheries

BUYERS IN LIVE LOBSTER contact LEonaRD 902 635-0774

Box 250 Lockeport, NS B0T 1L0 7556193

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LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK t 8&%/&4%": /07&.#&3

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53*$06/5:7"/(6"3% $"

n WHALES

‘It is not a blaming game’ Finding out why whales die and how to co-exist TINA COMEAU 53*$06/5: 7"/(6"3%

To report

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When performing a necropsy to determine how a whale died, it’s like peeling back the layers of an onion. “You literally start from the outside and go through the layers,�

Tonya Wimmer told those who attended a lobster forum in southwestern Nova Scotia this fall.

It’s a very systematic, detailed, autopsy process that takes all factors into account, including the condition of the whale – if it is not too decomposed – which includes noting any markings or damage to its exterior. The condition of its organs. Its bones – is there breakage? And on and on it goes.

This was vitally important this past year as an unprecedented number of dead North Atlantic Right Whales were found in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and elsewhere in Atlantic Canadian waters.

Starting June 6, and at the time of the forum in mid-September, there had been nine dead right whales dead discovered floating in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, four dead whales off Newfoundland and six free-swimming whales entangled in gear. “What we’ve seen this year from the perspective of that species is some pretty catastrophic events, deaths. It’s a huge proportion of the population,� said Wimmer. “This has never happened ever before. We’ve never had that many right whales die in that short period of time. This was something bizarre and it just kept going.�

Wimmer, who had even been at a necropsy the week the forum was held, is the director and founder of the Marine Animal Response Society (MARS). It’s an organization that was started 20 years ago to respond to events in Nova Scotia involving whales, dolphins, seals, sea turtles, sharks, etc. In the past 10 years it has developed into a network of about 10 organizations that work throughout the Maritimes, assisting in cases of stranded animals, entanglements and deaths.

SPECIES AT RISK The right whale, as a popula-

For stranded, injured, dead of distressed marine animals in the Maritime province call 1-866567-6277.

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Tonya Wimmer, the director of the Marine Animal Response Society (MARS), talks to fishermen at a lobster forum in southwestern Nova Scotia.

tivities, including gear entanglement and blunt force trauma, likely ship strikes.

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A photo taken during one of the whale necropsies this summer.

tion, is a species at risk. When it comes to determining how and why whales die – or ruling things out – it is important for a variety of reasons. One reason, Wimmer said, being if a cause isn’t known than people are guessing blindly as to why it happened.

Those tasked with finding the answers also want to find ways to prevent these deaths from hap-

pening. “It is not a blaming game,� she said. “It is about trying to figure out how we can co-exist. It really is about having an unbiased look.�

In this case, a report was eventually released that outlined the 2017 right whale incidents and necropsy results. It was confirmed that most of the animals examined died due to human ac-

STEPS BY DFO As the whale deaths were happening, there was a lot of pressure placed on the government to acknowledge the problem and address it.

As a result some snow crab fisheries in the Gulf of St. Lawrence were closed. Some fisheries closed early. Some had already caught their quotas or were close to the end, while there were other closures to get gear out of the water quickly.

Fixed gear and longline fisheries were asked to do things with their ropes to try and reduce entanglements.

Because some of the whales may have hit by large ships, DFO worked with Transport Canada to put in place, first, a voluntary slowdown for ships to 10 knots for vessels 20 metres or greater in size. Eventually this became mandatory.

There was some economic impact as some cruise ships cancelled visits to Charlottetown.

DETERMINING CAUSES Wimmer said it isn’t easy to carry out necropsies. The whales were towed to shore by DFO and

Coast Guard vessels and then the work began. “People work on boats with bait and fish and it doesn’t smell pretty. I guarantee you this is worse,� she said. “The blubber is very thick. They essentially are a giant pressure cooker. It’s summer, hot weather, they get banged around by the seas. It’s amazing how fast their whole body changes.�

And these are very large animals. “You need ladders to get people on top of the animal. You’re looking at animals that are six or seven feet high. I stand next to the flipper and it’s bigger than me,� she said.

Excavators also have to be used.

“This has never happened FWFS CFGPSF 8F WF OFWFS had that many right whales die in that short period of UJNF 5IJT XBT TPNFUIJOH CJ[BSSF BOE JU KVTU LFQU HPJOH w - Tonya Wimmer “And we physically can’t fold the blubber off these animals, you will exhaust yourself and if it falls on you, you will seriously injure yourself,� she said. “I very much tell people I’d like to be out of a job when it comes to dealing with these kinds of things,� she said. “This is not glamorous. It’s not fun. It’s very hard to look at these animals in this state.�

A lot of these whales have been monitored for years. “People have been studying them for a long time so you can identify them through pictures, just like fingerprints,� she said, referring to one of the whales that died. “We know one male was 37 years old and his name was Peanut.�

n TAKING STEPS

Fisherman says protection steps Minister considers can be taken n DFO

Not as much of an issue here but doesn’t hurt to be proactive TINA COMEAU 53*$06/5: 7"/(6"3% Fisherman Hubert Saulnier of Local 9 of the MFU likes to learn about things. And so he went to a necropsy of a dead whale to learn about the process and what’s involved when it comes to determining how a whale died.

One of the things he learned: “I’m never going to go back to one again,� he said.

It’s not a pleasant experience.

But he still wants to teach others about the importance of the fishing industry doing what it can to prevent whale entanglements with gear, which can be a cause of death for whales.

Over the years Saulnier has spoken a lot with his American counterparts in Maine where they have done gear modifications to lessen the probability of entanglements. “The way they have modified their gear, it would be very hard to fish the same way in the Bay of Fundy as you would in Cape Cod,� he said, noting tides here are stronger and the weather is different.

Still, at the SWNS Lobster Forum in Yarmouth this fall, Saulnier said there are steps fishermen can take to help prevent or decrease potential entanglements. “If you’re fishing in an area and you see a lot of action with whales, you can decide to take

5*/" $0.&"6

Hubert Saulnier discusses adding knots to fathom lines to help decrease whale entanglements.

your gear and move it out. Go five miles somewhere else,� he said.

But even this doesn’t come with any guarantees since while you may move, so too might the whales.

He said other preventive options can include what fishermen do with their rope.

Switching gears to another fishery, he said with groundfish, gill nets and long line, the Fixed Gear Council in Digby has limited the number of fishermen that can go fishing. Quotas have dropped anyway, he says, so there’s not enough for the 16 boats that used to fish anyway. “Every other year anybody who

wants to go, we send out three boats fishing. That eliminated a lot of vertical lines, horizontal lines, a lot of interaction in the Bay of Fundy in case there happened to be any type of whales in those areas,� he said. “If you have a 100-fathom buoy line, we can just put a knot every 30, 35 fathoms. That knot will break prior to the line breaking,� he says. “When you haul it in yourself, it’s not going to break.

But with the power of a whale‌�

Saulnier said another thing industry has to do is report instances if they see them. “If you do see an entangled whale the main thing to do is report it. We’re so reluctant to report it because we figure something bad is going to happen to us and we’re going to be shut down in the fishery,� he said. “I’ve been doing this 20 years and not once did I feel threatened that I would be stopped from fishing because I reported an entangled whale.�

Fortunately whales haven’t been a big issue in LFAs (lobster fishing areas) 33 and 34, he said, and because of that the industry hasn’t been pressured to do as much her as other fishing areas have. But that doesn’t mean there still shouldn’t be an obligation, he said.

And it certainly doesn’t mean you can’t be proactive, he said. “If fishermen have good ideas, we need them,� he said.

all options to protect the right whales 53*$06/5: 7"/(6"3% 3&(*0/"-

Canada’s commitment to protecting the North Atlantic Right Whale was front and centre at a roundtable meeting earlier in November led by Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.

LeBlanc met with representatives from fishing organizations, marine transportation industries, cruise lines, ferry associations, Indigenous peoples, whale experts and scientists, as well as the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to discuss concrete actions which can be taken to better protect the right whale in Canadian waters.

This roundtable is just one part of a comprehensive approach to ensure these marine mammals are protected for future generations. Moving forward, the Government of Canada will work with partners on many of the specific proposals that were discussed throughout the day, which include:

rËŽ "DUJWFMZ FYQMPSJOH PQportunities to adjust existing fishing gear immediately to reduce the risk of entanglements. rËŽ5FTUJOH OFX HFBS UFDIOPMogies that would reduce the amount of rope in the water and lower the risk of whale entanglements. rËŽ"EKVTUJOH GJTIJOH TFBTPOT to avoid periods when right whales congregate. rËŽ *NQMFNFOUJOH NFBTVSFT to reduce lost fishing gear that poses a risk to whales and other species. rËŽ&OIBODJOH XIBMF TJHIUJOH and detection information, and timely sharing of this information among all those concerned. rËŽ $POTJEFS TFBTPOBM TQFFE restrictions in target areas and adjustments to shipping lanes based on accurate and timely whale sightings information. r *NQSPWF UIF DPMMBCPSBUJPO and coordination across industry sectors, governments and non-governmental organizations to leverage the expertise on the protection and recovery of the North Atlantic Right Whale.

TRI-COUNTY VANGUARD WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2017

tricountyvanguard.ca

Lobster Fishing Outlook

B1

Tri-County Vanguard editor Tina Comeau wrote this story on Dumping Day 2016 after watching her husband and oldest son sail off for the start of the lobster season.

Like thousands of families in the region, hers is also tied to the sea.

This personal reflection went on to win the Best Resources Story Award in the Newspapers Atlantic journalism competition for community newspapers in Atlantic Canada. n FISHING FAMILIES

As mom watches from the wharf A personal perspective as lobster season starts TINA COMEAU TRICOUNTY VANGUARD

Am I? On dumping day lobster vessels are loaded with hundreds of traps, rope, balloons, anchors and other gear. Deck space doesn’t exist.

And we’re throwing people into that equation?

My son and I leave our driveway and join a long caravan of traffic heading to the wharf – their headlights and taillights dotting the darkened path to the wharf.

I comment about how this is the only day of the year that there’s rush-hour traffic at five in the morning in Melbourne and Pinkney’s Point.

Later at the wharf I barely see Jacob once he’s onboard the boat, except for the occasional glance I catch through the wheelhouse window.

As the boats leave the wharf at 6 a.m., those of us watching see one boat fetch up trying to exit the harbour. It takes a few attempts for it to round the breakwater.

Another boat is listing before it even pulls away from the wharf.

Some of us, fearing the worst, can barely watch as it bobs in the harbour. My heart dips each time the boat does. I worry as it sails away.

We watch a military plane fly overhead.

It’s there for protection so it should bring reassurance. Instead it only reinforces the sense of how risky the start to the season is.

PINKNEY’S POINT

W

e pull into the parking lot and my son is out of the car before I have a chance to say anything.

It’s 5:15 a.m. at the Pinkney’s Point wharf in Yarmouth County on Nov. 29, 2016. I watch him walk away at a brisk pace towards the wharf.

“Jacob!” I shout as I try to catch up to him, stumbling over my own feet in the dirt parking lot.

“Jacob, wait!”

He looks back and I tell him, “Be safe. Have a good day.”

He keeps walking and I feel the need to say more.

“Jacob!” I yell out again. He turns once more and I simply tell him, “Love ya!”

And in that moment I was no longer just the wife of a lobster fisherman.

I became the mother of one too.

As a lobster fishing family, our lives have forever been tied to this wharf that is not far from the house my husband grew up in and where his dad was also a fisherman.

Before my husband Greg and I were married our dates often consisted of him working on the boat, building lobster traps, making bait bags and me sitting there watching.

In more recent years, I’ve gone on a couple of fishing trips towards the end of the lobster season, but only on days in May when the weather was calm.

“It’s not always like this,” my husband told me on one of those trips, implying that I wasn’t getting the full fishing experience.

“I’ll just use my imagination,” I replied.

The truth is, I prefer not to think about the alternative. Fishing is risky and dangerous and as a journalist I’ve written stories about those who have gone fishing and haven’t come back. Every season I hope never to have to again.

But unfortunately the sea does not discriminate. It will take the young and it will take the old. It may claim one life at a time, or it may lay claim to many lives all at once. If your family has already experienced this type of heartbreak, it doesn’t mean you are immune to experiencing it again.

Nor does a community reach its quota of loss.

D

TINA COMEAU

My son Jacob Surette walking towards his dad’s boat at 5:15 a.m. on dumping day 2016 in Pinkney’s Point, Yarmouth County.

T

he lobster fishery is very important to this region. It truly is the engine that drives our economy. The previous year DFO tabulated that the landed value of the lobster fishery in LFA 34 was more than $432.7 million.

But just as important as the economic side is the safety side.

Yes, we want our fishermen to bring home good catches. But most importantly we want them to come home.

My husband has been hurt by equipment. He’s been dragged overboard. He’s gone to the aid of other vessels taking on water.

He’s missed hockey games, family vacations and other family events because he’s been out fishing.

And he’s not alone.

There are thousands more sacrificing family time. LFA 34 has 979 lobster licences, with boats usually crewed by three people, and even more during the opening weeks of the season. More often than not their work hours are governed by the weather.

In the first half of our marriage, I didn’t go to the wharf to watch the boats leave. I stayed home on dumping days as our young children slept while their dad went

fishing.

But I was always “there” just the same, whether it was watching the clock strike 6 a.m. or listening to the sound of patrolling aircraft overhead.

Fast-forward to 2016 and one of those little boys asleep in his bed all those lobster seasons ago is now an 18-year-old.

And he’s part of the crew.

“A

re you ready?” my son asks as we stand in the kitchen at 5 a.m., his signal that it’s time to drive to the wharf.

I don’t know, I think to myself.

umping day is an emotional time for the families of fishermen, evident by those who year after year stand on the wharfs and shorelines waving as their loved ones steam out of port.

At the Pinkney’s Point wharf, sailing off to the fishing grounds are husbands, fathers, sons, grandfathers, uncles, cousins, boyfriends and friends. “Good luck!” come the shouts from shore. “Stay safe!”

“I love you!” yells out one young girl.

I comment to the women standing around me – many of whom I’ve known since before Jacob was born – about how he is on his dad’s boat, appropriately named Jacob’s Journey, heading out on his first dumping day.

I feel the lump in my throat as their boat disappears from view.

I’ve been here for other dumping days, but this one feels like my first.

It’s one thing when your husband is on the boat. It’s another thing when your son is there too.

Whispers one of the moms to me, “It changes everything.”

TINA COMEAU

Lobster vessels loaded with traps and other gear leave the Pinkney’s Point wharf in Yarmouth County on dumping day last year.

LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK t 8&%/&4%": /07&.#&3

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n LICENSING

Lobster licensing in Nova Scotia still an issue The lingering question of controlling agreements

At 18, Carl d’Entremont figured he’d set out on his own.

He went down to the lobster processor in Pubnico, said he wanted money to buy a boat.

They gave him $11,000 for a Cape Islander, he bought a licence for 25 cents and built some traps. “I sold my fish to them and they would take 25 per cent off the top,� said d’Entremont, who at 70 is still fishing. “They’d make sure you had money to live with. If the season was tough, they would be very lenient. Now it don’t seem like that.�

That 52-year-old agreement d’Entremont paid off decades ago would, in modern-speak, be called a “controlling agreement.�

And, as of three years ago, it would be cause to lose your licence.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has begun enforcing the policy.

In late September it said it had recently refused to renew two licences. “Fisheries and Oceans Canada is also actively investigating a number of other licence holders,� said spokesman Frank Stanek at the time.

The news sent a wave of worry through the highly capitalized southwestern and south shore Nova Scotia lobster fishery, where some estimate a third of licences are tied up in secret controlling agreements.

It’s gotten to the point that a young captain, unless he inherits the licence, can’t get the capital to buy in.

It’s a situation everyone talks about but few are willing to speak about on the record.

HOW WE GOT HERE Management of the East Coast’s fishery is based on two policies: fleet separation and owner/operator. The inshore fleet, boats under 65 feet long, must be captained by the owner of the boat and licensee. “This would make it quite unique from an industry perspective,� said Sadira Jan, a partner at Halifax law firm Stewart McKelvey, who also teaches fisheries law at Dalhousie University.

The stated aim of the legislation is to ensure that inshore licences don’t all end up concentrated in the hands of a few processors as they have in other jurisdictions. “(The policy is) designed to support an independent inshore fleet in Atlantic Canada – with the wealth and value flowing from the licences held and controlled by individual fishermen remaining in their communities across Atlantic Canada,� states an explanation for the legislation on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada website.

But by 2007 some fishermen were complaining that the processors and buyers were gaining control over licences through a back door – by cutting deals that saw the licence stay in the fisherman’s name but be under their control.

In response, Fisheries and

Oceans demanded that fishermen declare any controlling agreements and gave them seven years to find a new way to finance their enterprise.

That time is up and Fisheries and Oceans Canada has begun revoking licences.

POLICY VS. REALITY “In lobster buying, if you keep the young guy in debt – maybe you have the mortgage on his house – as long as he owes you money, you got him,� said a south shore lobster buyer this fall on the condition his name not be used. “He can’t sell his lobster anywhere else.�

Not all fishermen who had controlling agreements got out of them by 2014. Some of them became better hidden.

And blurring the lines further is that some fishermen have become lobster buyers themselves – building holding tanks, buying from themselves and other boats, some of which they may also control through hidden agreements. “I know one fisherman who has four lobster licences,� said the buyer.

In any other industry, this would be normal practice – lending a supplier money on the guarantee that they sell to you.

HAVE A SAFE & BOUNTIFUL SEASON

We would like to take this special opportunity in expressing our best wishes to all Southwest Nova Lobster Fishermen and the numerous businesses and individuals associated with this vital industry in our area.

Paul d’Entremont Marine Ltd. 2616 Highway #3, Pubnico, N.S. paulmarine.com paulmarine@eastlink.ca t 'BY

There are also perfectly legal ways around the legislation. The law states that a fisherman can’t enter into an agreement with a third party that allows that third party to decide when or to whom he sells his licence.

But it doesn’t say he can’t enter an agreement with a third party that dictates to whom he sells his catch. “So if you’re loaning money to a fisherman but under the terms of the agreement they can still sell their licences whenever they want, then it’s not a controlling agreement, it’s just a private loan,� said Sadira Jan. “People are allowed to organize their business in any manner they see fit – it’s no different than making a loan to a corner store.�

What remains to be seen, said Jan, is how strict Fisheries and Oceans Canada becomes in its enforcement of the policy and what rule changes are brought in to close loopholes.

WHERE IT’S HEADING That licence d’Entremont paid a quarter for 52 years ago could now be worth anywhere from $400,000 to $700,000, depending on which lobster fishing area it is in. Instead of $11,000 for a boat, a new 45-foot Cape Islander can run $600,000.

Buy-in costs have been driven up, partially by controlling agreements, said the buyer who didn’t want his name used.

It’s gotten to the point that a young captain, unless he inherits

the licence, can’t get the capital to buy in. “The price for a licence will come down if the controlling agreements are snuffed out,� said the buyer.

But they won’t be cheap and, he added, a way will always be found because while fishermen need capital to fund their enterprises, the saturation of buyers means the latter need to guarantee access to the catch. “If DFO wants to snuff this out, they should follow the money,� said the buyer. “Follow the money to see who is getting settled up on the catch. Right now, I don’t think they are.�

FAQ Under the Frequently Asked Questions section of DFO’s website, there is the question: How does the department know which licence holders have agreements?

The answer: “. . . Harvesters were asked to file a declaration with the Department as to whether or not they were party to a controlling agreement with respect to the inshore fishing licence issued in his/her name. In addition, any licence holder requesting a licence transfer (replacement licence) is required to declare that they are not subject to a controlling agreement.�

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TRICOUNTYVANGUARD.CA

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2017 t

LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK

n PHOTO OPT

Unusual lobsters landed TINA COMEAU TRICOUNTY VANGUARD REGIONAL

The landing of unusual lobsters isn’t an unusual occurrence during the lobster season.

But in saying that, the unusual

B3

n SMALL STUFF

lobsters are still very rare given the huge volume of lobster landed during a season.

Here’s a sampling of some unusual catches of past years.

If you catch any odd looking lobsters this season be sure to send along a photo and info about the catch to info@tricountyvanguard.ca.

CHERYL DENTON PHOTO

Several juvenile lobsters are held in the hands of a researcher.

CONTRIBUTED ANDREW GOREHAM

This strange ghostly white lobster was caught in the first few days of a previous lobster season.

Beth Vanbuskirk of Gunning Cove caught a red lobster on last Dec. 6. Unlike lobsters that turn red when they are cooked, this lobster was not cooked but was rather a very rare catch.

Lobsters in the palm of your hand These aren’t the types of lobsters fishermen will be landing, but it is unusual to see lobsters in their small state.

This photo was taken during research of juvenile lobsters on the ocean floor that had taken place in a previous year in Lobster Bay in Yarmouth County and St. Mary’s Bay in Digby County.

The lobster larvae – hatched from lobster eggs – that researchers were pulling up to the surface in collectors from the ocean floor looked just like adult lobsters, except that you could hold a bunch of them in the palm of your hand.

It takes five to seven years for a lobster to grow to legal size, providing they don’t become a snack first for other marine species, which is often the case.

facebook.com/pages/ TriCountyVanguard TINA COMEAU CONTRIBUTED

This four-clawed lobster was caught on the Ashley Alissa, which fishes out of Abbot’s Harbour in Pubnico, during a previous lobster season.

This two-tone lobster was landed aboard the French Lily and caught in False Harbour during a previous lobster season, although its not the only two-toned lobster this newspaper has photographed before.

7552889

LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK t 8&%/&4%": /07&.#&3

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TRICOUNTYVANGUARD.CA

n PROTECTION

DID YOU

Sage advice on marine protected areas

know?

Lobster Facts

An MPA doesn’t always mean exclusion, fishermen told The federal government’s initiative is to increase the percentage of marine and coastal protected areas across the country from just under one per cent to five per cent by 2017 and to 10 per cent by 2020.

KATHY JOHNSON TRICOUNTY VANGUARD REGIONAL

There was sage advice on the development of marine protected areas (MPAs) at the SWNS Lobster Forum in Yarmouth from Shawn Brillant, senior conservation biologist for the Canadian Wildlife Federation and adjunct professor in oceanography at Dalhousie University. “MPAs may serve you better than you think,� Brillant told fishermen attending the forum earlier this fall. “They will not solve all the problems, which frankly is one of the problems.�

He said many people see them as the goal and a saviour for marine conservation and they are not. But while they are not the solution to everything, he said, they will serve you better than you think. “It’s very worthwhile to get involved. The reason for that is the oceans are becoming a very busy place. There are all kinds of industry scrambling for space on the sea floor or space on the high seas,� he said, which can cause problems to fish stocks and water quality problems. “It’s going to be crucially important you are there to talk about it.�

The federal government’s initiative is to increase the percentage of marine and coastal protected areas across the country from just under one per cent to five per cent by 2017 and to 10 per cent by 2020.

This stems from the federal government’s mandate and a number of domestic and international commitments, including one under the Convention on Biological Diversity, where

KATHY JOHNSON

Shawn Brillant addresses fishermen at the SWNS Lobster Forum in Yarmouth earlier this fall.

various maritime countries, including Canada, have agreed to protect 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas through networks of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and other effective areabased conservation measures by 2020.

DFO is taking the lead on the MPA network development.

Parks Canada, Environment

Canada, as well as the provinces and territories, are also involved in the process. DFO will be releasing a draft MPA network plan to the public in December, says spokesperson Steve Bournis.

Brillant told fishermen that from a conservation perspective, and from his perspective, “MPAs are great. They are the way of the

future. I do get annoyed when others see (them) as the solution to everything. They are not the solution to everything. (An MPA) doesn’t help with pollution, migratory species or contaminations or a variety of other issues.�

But he said they do help in some situations, particularly where there is bottom habitat and species that need protection. “There is a lot of science that shows once MPAs are in place, even if it’s just a managed area or a reserve or no fishing, science is showing these areas serve the surrounding areas very well,� he said. “Fish species and commercially harvested species become more abundant. They are able to resist change more. There is less up-and-down variability because MPAs can do that.�

An MPA doesn’t always mean exclusions, Brillant said, adding that of the existing eight to 10 MPAs in Canada, oil and gas exploration and fishing is allowed in all but three.

“You need to be part of that discussion, where and what is protected in an MPA,� he told fishermen, saying fisheries need to make sure they are involved in determining what needs to be protected and how it is protected. “You need to be at the table.�

Canadian Atlantic Lobster are truly fascinating creatures. Here are some interesting facts that you may, or may not, know about this charismatic crustacean. t )BSE TIFMMFE WFSTVT TPGU shelled: Since the Atlantic Lobster must moult – shed its shell – in order to grow, it will display a thinner softer shell after it has moulted. In Canada, the lobster season is staggered around the summer moulting period and the majority of Canadian "UMBOUJD -PCTUFS BSF IBSWFTUFE hard-shelled. t .PVMUJOH 5IJT JT EPOF UISPVHI out the life of the lobster to enable it to grow. During its first year a lobster will moult as many as 10 times. Lobsters will continue to moult approximately once a year until maturity. Older lobsters may moult only once FWFSZ UXP UP UISFF ZFBST t 3FHFOFSBUJOH MJNCT -PCTUFST can regenerate appendages lost UP QSFEBUJPO 5IJT XPVME JODMVEF their claws, legs, antennules and antennae. Sometimes, for no apparent reason, lobsters will also drop a claw. t -PCTUFS UFFUI -PCTUFST EP IBWF UFFUI IPXFWFS JOTUFBE PG CFJOH found in the mouth they are found in the stomach. t 4UFBN TDSFBN 5IF "UMBOUJD -PCTUFS EPFT OPU IBWF BOZ WPDBM cords and contrary to rumour JU EPFT OPU TDSFBN 5IF TPVOE heard when boiling lobster is only the steam escaping from the shell. t (SPXUI DIBSU *U UBLFT B MPCster around six to eight years to reach a market weight of approximately one pound. Lobsters grow quicker in warmer XBUFS BOE DBO BDIJFWF NBSLFU weights in less time.

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FISHING SEASON!

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n SAFETY

LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK

B5

n ASSISTANCE

Logbook to help fishermen Information can be documented all in one place TINA COMEAU TRICOUNTY VANGUARD

Need more info?

REGIONAL

AMY WOOLVETT

Carrying the life raft to the water.

Gearing up for safety Fishermen take part in MED course

AMY WOOLVETT

A fisherman jumps into the harbour during training.

AMY WOOLVETT TRICOUNTY VANGUARD SHELBURNE COUNTY

Fishermen in Shelburne County headed into the water on Dock Street last month, to take their Marine Emergency Duties in preparation for the upcoming lobster season.

The required course for lobster fishermen had them pulling on survival gear and jumping into the harbour to learn the skills required to respond to a marine incident.

AMY WOOLVETT

Fishermen go into survival formation.

An initiative has been undertaken to help fishermen log the information they need, and are required, to have aboard their boats.

A logbook is being provided to boats across the province in which fishermen can log safety procedures, equipment information and expiry dates, info on safety drills they’ve completed, etc.

This is an initiative of Fishing Safety Now, which is a partnership of the Nova Scotia Fisheries Sector Council and the Fisheries Safety Association of Nova Scotia. The concept stems from an initiative of Fish Safe BC. “When the new regulations came out from Transport Canada in July, the main thing that was part of the new regulations was the fact that fishermen needed to have written safety procedures,� says sector council executive director Lisa Fitzgerald, who says there are around 13 procedures Transport Canada has suggested for fishermen. “We started off by trying to find ways to help guys put together their procedures and to help them make them their own,� she says. “We have a template where we walk them through it and check off what’s applicable, what’s not applicable. They could go to the Internet and just print them off, but really it’s better to customize them to your boat.�

This is particularly useful since Transport Canada rules and regulations differ based on the size of boats and how far offshore they fish. “When we started going through the process we realized that part of the whole thing is about documenting. Now we’re in a world where if you didn’t write it down it didn’t happen. They want to see where you’ve logged in things that you’ve done, like a man overboard drill, if you’ve done any maintenance to your

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boat or things like that,� says Fitzgerald – hence the logbook. “One section will be places to log things, writing down some of their safety training that have.

The expiry dates on equipment.

It’ll also have different safety drills that they’re supposed to do, with templates that actually show them the things they need to check off when they’re doing them. They can also log in when they did it,� Fitzgerald says. “This way if an inspector boards their boat, they can say here it is, all in one book,� she says. A section of the logbook also includes general safety information.

Fitzgerald says 5,000 logbooks have been ordered for distribution across the province – one per boat. She says they were able to secure different sources of funding to provide the logbooks for free. The first shipment of logbooks was expected to arrive this week. Fitzgerald says they will be working to quickly get them into the hands of fishermen. “Part of what we’ve been doing since September is we also have a safety procedures pouch, so people who have already got a pouch can transfer the information into their logbook and then continue to write stuff down,� she says, adding there is help available to walk people through the logbook. For that there is a $50 fee. “Sometimes people may want that extra help so that is a service we do provide,� says Fitzgerald. “It just makes it a bit easier because it can be confusing.�

Best Wishes for a Safe & Prosperous Season

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LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK t 8&%/&4%": /07&.#&3

B6

TRICOUNTYVANGUARD.CA

N.S. FISHERIES SAFETY ASSOCIATION PHOTO

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n SAFETY

Focus on fishing safety Man overboard drills held ahead of season KATHY JOHNSON TRICOUNTY VANGUARD REGIONAL

The Nova Scotia fishing industry is becoming a leader in the Maritimes when it comes to safety at sea. “Good things are happening,� says Amanda Dedrick, executive director of the Fisheries Safety Association of Nova Scotia. “We’re getting a lot of uptake, a lot of interest and a lot of questions are being asked.�

Since 2012, the safety association has conducted 120 manoverboard drills at Nova Scotia wharves. “We held one in Clark’s Harbour this year and had 130 people on the wharf watching,� said Dedrick. “It was our biggest turnout. Usually we have between 30 to 50 people.�

The man overboard drills are part of a co-management project called Fishing Safety Now, that’s a five-year action plan that’s in place for the industry. It is comanaged by the Fisheries Safety Association of Nova Scotia and the Fisheries Sector Council.

Dedrick adds the provincial

Department of Labour works closely with the safety association on the wharf, talking to fishermen about PFDs (personal flotation devices) and the risk of drowning. They’ve also had help and support from the NSCC School of Fisheries in Shelburne in past years with the man overboard drills.

The safety-at-sea message and the importance of wearing a PFD while on deck are beginning to spread, with both P.E.I. and New Brunswick looking at Nova Scotia, says Dedrick. “They want to mirror what we are doing,� she says, with regards to PFD regulations under provincial labour laws.

That the fishing industry is regulated by both the provincial and federal governments makes Nova Scotia unique, says Dedrick. “That’s not the case in the rest of Atlantic Canada,� she says.

PAYING OFF Safety at sea is paying off for the fishing industry in Nova Scotia. The Workers’ Compensation rate is down to $4.92 per $100 of assessable payroll. Last year the rate was $5.46. In 2014 it was $8.06. “It has come down a consider-

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able amount since 2014,� Dedrick says. “When speaking with the Workers’ Compensation Board they often tell us the Nova Scotia fishing industry is an anomaly.

The industry payroll is increasing but the accident rate is going down.

See FISHING page B7

N.S. FISHERIES SAFETY ASSOCIATION PHOTO

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2017 t

LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK

B7

N.S. FISHERIES SAFETY ASSOCIATION PHOTO

Nova Scotia Fisheries Safety Association executive director Amanda Dedrick addresses the crowd on the wharf on the Newellton wharf on Cape Sable Island during a man-overboard drill.

n SAFETY

Fishing safety CONTINUED FROM B6

N.S. FISHERIES SAFETY ASSOCIATION PHOTO

Matthew Duffy wears the Mustang Elite (Hydrostatic) PFD, one of many types of PDFs on the market.

N.S. FISHERIES SAFETY ASSOCIATION PHOTO

Nova Scotia Fisheries Sector Council employee Brandon Fitzgerald floats alongside the fishing vessel, This Is It 1, captained by Captain David O’Neill, during a man-overboard drill in McGraths Cove.

Usually if an industry’s profits are going up, the accident rate also goes up so it’s a good story.”

New Fishing Vessel Safety Regulations from Transport Canada also came into effect this year that set out new requirements for safety equipment, written safety procedures and vessel stability for small commercial fishing vessels operating in Canada.

Among the new requirements, fishing vessels are required to carry a boarding ladder and a retrieval apparatus, says Dedrick, such as a Jason cradle.

One retrieval apparatus that is receiving a lot of attention has been dubbed the ‘Pubnico loop’ as it originated in Pubnico, says Dedrick, and is just an example of what can be used. Fishermen have also created retrieval devices using pool noodles and netting, she says.

“Fishermen are very innovative,” she says. “I find that if they have something unique it is often because of something that hap-

3

things TO KNOW

Fishing Vessel Safety 1 New Regulations from Transport

Canada came into effect this year that set out new requirements for safety equipment.

is also a requirement for 2 There written safety procedures and vessel stability for small commercial fishing vessels operating in Canada.

the new requirements, 3 Among fishing vessels are required to carry a boarding ladder and a retrieval apparatus.

pened aboard their vessel.”

To help industry get adjusted to the new federal vessel safety regulations, Dedrick says the fisheries safety association and the Nova Scotia Fisheries Sector Council are both resources that are available to help fishermen and industry organizations.

KATHY JOHNSON

The man-overboard retrieval apparatus dubbed the Pubnico Loop hangs at the ready on the back of a fishing vessel in Lower Woods Harbour.

Wishing a Safe & Prosperous Lobster Season to all.

To everyone involved in the lobster industry:

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LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK t 8&%/&4%": /07&.#&3

53*$06/5:7"/(6"3% $"

n FISHERIES DICTIONARY

Lobster Terms 101 Here is a glossary of terms you might hear thrown around as this year’s lobster season gets underway.

BANDING: Placing a strong elastic around the claws of the live lobster allowing for handling among harvesters, buyers and processors. It also helps to control quality of the lobsters. Banding is done on the fishing vessel when the lobsters are taken out of the traps.

BANDERS: Extra crewmembers that are hired on boats to help band the lobsters in the first few weeks of the season in the fall when catches tend to be higher.

BERRIED LOBSTER: A female with eggs under her tail. Under Canadian law berried lobsters must be returned to the sea.

CARAPACE: The body shell.

The carapace of a lobster is measured from the back of the eye sockets to the end of the body shell to determine legal size. The tail is not included in this measurement.

CRUSHER: The larger of the two claws on a lobster.

CULL: A lobster with one or no claws, which is normally sold at a lower price. There is often debate as to whether or not culls should be landed.

HARD SHELL: The term that describes a lobster whose shell has fully hardened after moulting.

Hard-shelled lobsters yield more meat than soft shell or shedders, and are therefore considered better quality.

LFA (LOBSTER FISHING AREAS): Atlantic Canada is divided into fishing regions or zones.

These LFAs have their own applicable fishing seasons. Some conservations measures may differ from LFA to LFA. LOBSTER CAR: You won’t drive this on the highway. This is a large wooden structure that sits under water in which fishermen can store crates of live lobster.

PINCHER CLAW: Of the claws on a lobster, it is the smaller one.

POPSICLE PACK: It’s not something that children lick on a hot summer day. This is a term used to describe a whole cooked lobster that is packed in brine in a cello sleeve and frozen.

POUND: A storage area that is used for holding live lobster.

SHEDDERS: This term describes lobsters that are in the moulting or soft-shell stage of growth.

SOFT SHELL: This describes a lobster after it moults or sheds its hard shell. The new shell that replaces it remains soft for a period of time to help the lobster grow. Fishermen generally want to avoid catching soft-shelled lobsters since the meat yield is lower and the quality not as good.

TAGS: A plastic marker on a trap that identifies that the trap is being legally fished by a licensed fishermen.

TRAP OR POT: A cage-like structure used to catch lobster alive under water. Where traps used to be mostly made out of wood years ago, the majority are now wire traps.

TOMALLEY: The green-coloured liver of a lobster.

TIRED: What fishermen are after a long day on the water.

TINA COMEAU

A lobster shell is called a carapace. To determine the size of a lobster the carapace is measured from the back of the eye socket to the end of the body shell.

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2017 t

LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK

B9

n BOATS

Under the wire

Yarmouth County resident grew frustrated after cases of vessels knocking his wires down ERIC BOURQUE TRICOUNTY VANGUARD YARMOUTH

A Yarmouth County resident who had grown tired of having his wires clipped and his house damaged when new fishing boats were being transported past his Sandford home en route to the water is glad the latest delivery went smoothly.

He hopes this is a good sign for the future.

Standing outside his house on the morning of Nov. 9, Eric Landers was breathing easier after another new vessel had gone by, destined for the wharf down the road from his residence.

This time the phone company had been on hand to disconnect the phone and Internet wires and then, as the vessel was slowly hauled past his house, a man in an elevated bucket had held the power line crossing the road from Landers’ home up a little higher, ensuring the boat was able to

ERIC BOURQUE

A wire is held up to help make way for a new lobster-fishing vessel being transported to the wharf in Sandford on Nov. 9.

pass underneath.

The vessel was constructed at a boat shop a mile or so away.

“I think things have gone quite well,” Landers said. “The power and Bell Aliant were here. They put in extra effort and took the

wires down first.”

While waiting for the vessel to arrive, Landers – a lobster fisherman – had spoken a bit about what, for him, was a frustrating situation. He said six or seven times wires had been hauled off

the house.

“Maybe nine, 10 years ago, there was one incident when the meter was loosened off the house and since then it’s kind of offand-on, but mainly in the last five years.”

Moving fishing vessels from boat shops to the shore can be a challenge for boat shops, given the size of the boats and issues, at times, with wires. But it obviously is a necessity of the industry. Steps are taken to ensure the move goes smoothly for everyone involved. At times traffic is affected as the large boats make their way along the roads.

It was an incident on Nov. 4 that prompted Landers to try to draw public attention to his issue. On that day, another vessel being transported by his home caught his wires.

Landers wasn’t there at the time, but his wife was and – upon hearing a loud noise when the boat caught the wires connected to the house – she went out to see what it was.

“It wasn’t a power wire,” Landers said. “It was the computer

and telephone, so all day I spent on the phone getting repair guys, helping them run wires.”

Landers said his next-door neighbour was affected that day too. Generally, though, his house has been most likely to get hit, as the wires there are the lowest of anyone’s.

Landers acknowledges that those involved in moving the vessels have the permit to do so. In his case he simply wanted to see more effort go into ensuring boats can go by without bringing his wires down and damaging his house.

He cited a case a few years ago when a big vessel – a 60-footer – went by. He said he knew ahead of time about that one and knew that they were going to disconnect wires to make way for the boat.

“An hour or two later, everything was hooked up, everybody was happy,” he said.

He did feel much better after the latest delivery.

“I think we’ve made some progress.”

IN

brief

Special delivery

HONG KONG – Talk about lobster to go.

When a woman from Cape Breton living in Hong Kong told her radio station back home this past fall that she’d love to have lunch delivered, they really did.

Carolyn Andrews has been working as a teacher in Hong Kong for 20 years but she still listens to 101.9 The Giant, a radio station in Sydney, N.S. everyday. When the radio station held a contest saying it would deliver lunch to listener once a week, Andrews entered via email, looking for lunch for her and her colleagues.

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A friend of the radio host who worked for Louisbourg Seafoods Ltd. was planning to go to Hong Kong anyway, and dropped off a lobster sandwich lunch for 20 to a surprised, but happy, Andrews.

“You are joking me!” she exclaimed.

And in addition to this, it almost looked transparent.

He took a photo that made the rounds on social media but he didn’t bring the lobster home. It’s tale had been notched, meaning it was a female and off limits.

Well, that’s different

One too many

MAINE – Alex Todd has seen some different looking lobsters in his days as a fisherman in Maine, but one he caught in late August particularly stood out.

He described the lobster as being pale blue ghostly – almost white in fact.

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PICTOU, N.S. – A Merigomish fisherman was fined $2500 for having one undersized canner lobster in his catch.

He pleaded guilty in Pictou provincial court Monday to having a lobster measuring less than 76 mm in his catch on May 31, 2017.

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Fisheries officers were at the Lismore wharf when the fisherman was unloading his lobster catch. The market lobsters measured the proper limit but one of the lobsters picked out of the 95-pound catch of canners was undersized.

In court it was mentioned the fisherman was the captain in the boat but was busy training a novice fishermen about the industry. The defence also said he has been an advocate for the fishing industry and has fought for size limits to help improve sustainability of the industry over the years so it is unfortunate for him to be in this situation.

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LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK t 8&%/&4%": /07&.#&3

B10

TRICOUNTYVANGUARD.CA

n MARINE SAFETY

Advancing safety on the water ‘It’s really up to us to make it safer’

thought he was doing what he was supposed to do.�

And yet even when it’s in writing, Pothier said what matters most is that it’s implemented and followed on a daily basis – no matter the size of the vessel or crew.

TINA COMEAU TRICOUNTY VANGUARD REGIONAL

It was supposed to be an ordinary fishing trip, except that on the water things don’t always happen the way they’re supposed to.

And the worst possible outcome when things go wrong is injury or death.

An accident onboard the scallop dragger Compass Rose II in June 2015 left a crewmember with permanent injuries after he was struck on the head by part of the dragger equipment.

While the injury wasn’t prevented that day, the owners of the vessel, Yarmouth Sea Products Ltd., have taken extensive safety steps to prevent such an accident from happening again.

The company says the lessons it has learned, and the safety steps it has taken, can be applied to any fishing sector, including the lobster industry.

Recently, the company gave a public presentation about incident, the court case that followed and the safety measures

“We’re here with the intention of trying to educate and encourage members of the fishery to up their game when it comes to safety on the water.�

- Yarmouth Sea Products attorney Clifford Hood they’ve taken. The presentation was one of two such sessions ordered by the court that the company had to undertake as part of the penalty handed to it following guilty pleas to three Occupational Health and Safety Act charges.

But Yarmouth Sea Products also saw the presentations as an opportunity given to them to help to advance safety within the fishing industry. “We’re here with the intention of trying to educate and encourage members of the fishery to up their game when it comes to

TINA COMEAU

Yarmouth Sea Products Ltd. attorney Clifford Hood outlined the circumstances of an accident onboard a scallop dragger two years ago and the steps the company has taken to advance safety.

safety on the water,� said company attorney Clifford Hood during a public session in Yarmouth.

THE DAY The Compass Rose II was fishing in the Bay of Fundy on June 7, 2015, when the crew started hauling in the drag. A crewmember had prematurely moved into position to attach a hook under the drag when a cable broke, causing the drag to fall and a heavy ring to strike him on the head.

The Rescue Coordinator Centre was notified as the crew administered first aid.

Assistance was provided by the DigbySaint John ferry, which transported the crewmember to hospital in Saint John, N.B. He was then airlifted to Halifax suffering from significant injuries.

He had suffered a skull fracture, a broken bone in his neck and an orbital bone (eye socket) was fractured.

In a victim impact statement to the court the man said that day of fishing forever changed his life, and his family’s life.

He suffers from seizures, brain damage, has chronic pain and will be on medication for the rest of his life.

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THE MESSAGE During the public session, Pothier told those in attendance that there can never be enough emphasis put on safety. “You should investigate every accident, big or small, to make sure it doesn’t happen again,� he said. It’s not enough to just provide PFDs. You have to make sure they are worn. And responsibility falls to everyone, not just to employers and captains. If a crewmember notices that something is not right, or that safety is somehow being compromised, they have an obligation to speak up, Pothier said. “If the crew doesn’t tell the captain that something is wrong, it can’t be fixed,� he said.

Because above all, no one wants to see anyone injured on the job – or worse. “These accidents sometimes have immediate effect, but more importantly they have long-term effects for victims,� said Hood. “Yarmouth Sea Products is sorry this accident happened but it can’t fix that, other than to come here today and try to advance safety in the industry.�

There was a lively discussion among those who attended the session, ranging on everything from proper safety equipment and training, to common sense and awareness of one’s surroundings.

Among those at the presentation was Hubert Saulnier of the Maritime Fishermen’s Union who summed up things with this message. “I’ve heard many times how dangerous fishing is. I personally know it’s dangerous but I really think it doesn’t have to be as dangerous. We can be safer,� he said of the fishing industry. “It’s really up to us to make it safer.�

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“Because I have seizures I may never be able to drive a vehicle, a dirt bike or a 4-wheeler again,â€? he said in his victim impact statement to the court. “I’m not able to get on the ice with my 10-year-old son and play hockey‌I can no longer write my letters properly. They are backwards and/ or upside down.â€?

And it has caused great financial strain for the family, in addition to the lifelong physical repercussions.

THE AFTERMATH Yarmouth Sea Products Ltd. was charged with three Occupational Health and Safety Act charges. The charges related to not ensuring protective equipment, ie: a hat hard, was worn; not having a written occupational health and safety program; and not taking every precaution that is reasonable for the health and safety of employees.

The company was fined $10,000 and ordered to contribute $30,000 to the Fisheries Safety Association of Nova Scotia, in addition to holding two public info safety sessions.

When interviewed after the accident, the injured crewmember had indicated that Compass Rose II was one of the safest vessels he had been on – this was his third trip – and that for hours crewmembers were drilled by the captain about what to do and what not to do on boat, in addition to making them familiar with the vessel.

But those verbal commands were not enough, according to the law. “The captain had told everyone what to do, but the vessel didn’t have it writing,� said Charles Pothier, a retired occupational health and safety officer. “He

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TINA COMEAU

Retired occupational health and safety officer Charles Pothier spoke about the need for safety and how the onus falls on everyone.

THE CHANGES Following the accident, Yarmouth Sea Products spent in excess of $220,000 on safety upgrades for its fleet and plant operations.

The company should have had a written safety procedure in place, it should have had designated safe areas marked for where crewmembers are to stand when the drag is being lifted, it should have had a requirement for deck crew to wear CSA certified safety hats when hoists are being used.

It has all this now and more.

Land-based and fleet occupational health and safety committees have been formed. Procedural policies on safety have been developed. Vessels all have boarding ladders, high water alarms and watch alarms, in addition to survival suits and safety hats and numerous other safety equipment. A red line has been painted six feet along the outer edge of the wharf where vessels are tied to warn captains, crews and contractors that a PDF has to be worn if they cross the line towards the water.

And the list of safety improvements go on and on – too extensive to all list in this article. Jameson Theriault Marine Survey says Yarmouth Sea Products’ implementation of safe work practices now exceeds Transport Canada regulations and has set a new industry standard for crew safety in the Scotia Fundy Scallop fleet. And key to the success of improving the safety culture is that employee input was part of the process.

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2017 t

LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK

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n LOBSTER POT TREE

Barrington’s lobster pot Christmas tree

KEN CHETWYND

This year’s lobster pot tree in Barrington will be lit on Nov. 23.

The buoys are hung from the traps with care KATHY JOHNSON TRICOUNTY VANGUARD BARRINGTON

The Municipality of Barrington’s lobster pot Christmas tree will be lit for the season on Nov. 23, providing a sight of beauty, a sense of pride and a symbol of remembrance and respect for the rich lobster fishing culture and heritage of the area.

Over the years, the lobster pot Christmas tree, which stands stately on the North East Point waterfront on Cape Sable Island has evolved.

“It changes every year,” says Suzy Atwood tourism and community development coordinator for the Municipality. “The design has gone from a square tree to one that is more circular like a Christmas tree. It’s always a learning curve every year.”

Just over 200 recycled lobster traps are used to construct the tree.

“These are traps that have been sitting on the bottom of the ocean, caught their fare share of lobster and lasted their life cycle,” says Atwood. The tree is completely filled in the middle with traps to provide stability for municipal employees while they are building and decorating it.

Wanting to make the tree even more a part of the community, in 2014 Atwood put out the call for people to place memorial or commemorative lobster pot buoys on the tree. It didn’t take long for people to respond. At last count last year, Atwood says there were more than 100 memorial

and commemorative lobster pot buoys on the tree.

“I lost count,” she says. “Every time I went to the tree, someone had added another one.”

Not all the buoys are in memory of fishermen, says Atwood.

“Some represent boats on the water today that are out there fishing but a good number are in memory of fishermen who have passed on or have been lost at sea.”

When it comes to decorating

the tree, Atwood says great care is taken to ensure the special buoys are placed just so.

“We have requests from people who don’t live here but have a buoy on the tree so we try to put those on the side of the tree fa-

cing the Nova Scotia webcam so they can read them,” she says.

Others are placed on the lower tiers of the tree and prominent places around the top. Throughout the season, it’s not uncommon to see families and friends visiting the lobster pot Christmas tree and taking photos. Atwood says from speaking with some family members who have memorial buoys on the tree, they have told her they find “a sense of peace when they come to the tree and sense of community as well.

They really appreciate the tree for what it has become to represent.”

The municipality is adding also its decorative nod to the lobster fishing industry this holiday season with a display of Canada 150 buoys painted by local residents around the duck pond fence in front of the Barrington Municipal Library.

IF YOU GO

The lighting of the Lobster Trap Christmas Tree will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 23 and will be followed by fireworks.

CONTRIBUTED

Canada 150 buoys painted by residents of the Municipality of Barrington will be hung around the duck pond fence in front of the Barrington Municipal Library this holiday season.

The Canada 150 buoys will also be part of an art show in February 2018, where the 10 lobster sculptures commissioned by the municipality will be unveiled. The sculptures are all in the hands of the artists, says Atwood. “Its exciting to see the progress, to see them come alive.”

The fiberglass lobster sculptures, which are also a Canada 150 project, will be placed at various locations throughout the municipality.

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LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK t 8&%/&4%": /07&.#&3

TRICOUNTYVANGUARD.CA

n EVENT

Lobster Splash coming Dec. 8-22 Event celebrates the region’s lobster season by encouraging chefs to create new and unique lobster dishes CARLA ALLEN TRICOUNTY VANGUARD YARMOUTH

More restaurants than ever will be participating in the Dec. 8-22 Yarmouth Lobster Splash.

This is the seventh year for the event, which celebrates the region’s lobster season by encouraging chefs to create new and unique dishes highlighting the versatile crustacean.

Everything from a lobster slaw side dish to chowder, a lobster pizza, full-course meals, and chocolate lobsters were available last year.

Posters for the Lobster Splash are distributed to retailers and banks in town a week or two before the event.

The Lobster Splash Facebook page has more details about the event. Visit for information on which eateries are taking part and what’s on the menu.

CONTRIBUTED

Lobster risotto arancini finished with green fairy pesto and seasonal vegetables – MacKinnon Cann Inn’s Lobster Splash dish in 2015.

n SEAFOOD

Lobster recipes will delight guests Lobster, Strawberry and Mango Salad

1 tbsp Honey 3 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar 1/3 c. Vegetable Oil Salt Cracked Black Pepper

between 4 plates. Drizzle salads with vinaigrette and sprinkle with chive sticks.

Servings: 4

Salad

6 oz. Washed Spring Lettuce Salad Mix 5 oz. Lobster Meat 3 Large Strawberries, sliced 3 tbsp Chive Sticks 20 Slices of English Cucumber 1/2 Mango, Peeled and Sliced

Vinaigrette

3 Strawberries 1 tsp Dijon Mustard

Method For Vinaigrette Place strawberries, Dijon mustard, honey and Balsamic vinegar in blender.

Blend until smooth. With blender running add vegetable oil in a slow and steady stream until well mixed. Season with salt and fresh cracked pepper.

Method For Salad To prepare salad arrange lettuce, lobster, strawberries, mango and cucumber evenly

Source www.tastelobster.ca

Lobster Sushi

By CHEF JOERG SOLTERMANN Culinary Institute of Canada Equipment: Sushi Mat Ingredients

5 oz cooked lobster claw meat, cut into strips 2 cups Japanese sticky rice 2 cups water 2/3 cup rice vinegar or regular white vinegar 1 oz salt 1/3 cup sugar Nori sheets (Sushi seaweed) Wasabi (Japanese horseradish) comes in powder form and is mixed with water English cucumber, thin sticks Julienne of cucumber and Alpha spouts for garnish Soy sauce (Japanese if possible – “Kikkoman”)

Method for rice Wash the rice in cold water and rinse several times. Drain into a colander and let stand for 30 minutes. Put into pot and add water. Cover with a lid and let simmer on low heat for 20 minutes and fluff with a fork. Cover; remove from heat and let sit for 20 min. Put into a flat bowl and let cool.

Cover and keep at room temperature.

Method for sushi vinegar In another pot, bring the vinegar to a boil, add salt and sugar, and dissolve. Chill.

Method for the sushi roll Prepare a medium size bowl with hot water and salt (keeps hands clean and moist to handle sticky rice). Flavor the cooked rice with the sushi vinegar to taste.

Take one Nori sheet and lay it on the sushi mat, the shiny side down. With your hands, form a ball of sushi rice the size of a large egg, and place it on the Nori sheet then

spread out the rice evenly leaving a one inch border at the top (this will seal the roll). Using finger spread a line of Wasabi across the rice. Place lobster and cucumber sticks on top of the Wasabi. Roll up from the bottom up using the sushi mat.

Make sure it is nice and tight. Seal the Nori sheet with a bit of water. Cut into 3⁄4 inch slices, garnish with cucumber and Alpha sprouts, and serve with Soy sauce.

Serves 2 (should make 2 dozens sushi) Source www.tastelobster.ca

Lobster Bisque Ingredients

3 tbsp Minced Onion 2 tbsp Red Pepper, finely diced 2 tbsp Yellow Pepper, finely diced 2 tbsp Green Pepper, finely diced 1 c. Fennel Bulb, finely diced 1 tbsp Butter 4 oz. Lobster Meat chopped 1 tsp Anise Seed 1 tsp Spanish Paprika 1/3 c. White Wine 1/3 c. Chicken Stock 1 c. Heavy Cream Salt & Pepper

Method In a shallow sauce pot over mediumhigh heat add butter, onions, peppers and fennel. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until tender.

Add anise seed, paprika and lobster meat.

Continue to sauté for another minute.

Then add white wine and chicken stock to vegetable and lobster mixture. Reduce for 1 minute and then add cream, season with salt and pepper and simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.

Servings: 4 Source www.tastelobster.ca See more recipes om page B13

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TRICOUNTYVANGUARD.CA

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2017 t

LOBSTER FISHING OUTLOOK

B13

n ON THE MENU

Ways to prepare lobster There are many ways to prepare lobster. Here are some ways as described on the website www.tastelobster.ca.

BOILING Use sufficient salted water to fully cover the lobsters and bring to a rolling boil. Grasp the lobster by the back and plunge it headfirst into the boiling water.

Cover and simmer 7-10 minutes for the first pound in 2-3 minutes for each additional pound. Remember to increase the cooking time if more than one lobster is in the pot.

Once the lobster is cooked, remove it from the water. The lobster will continue to cook in its shell even when removed from the cooking liquid —so take them out just before they are cooked or cook until done and then place into iced water

to cool and stop the cooking process. If you plan to serve the lobster cold, refrigerate it until needed.

If you want to be creative try adding carrots, onion, white wine and a bouquet of herbs to the cooking liquid. If you eliminate the salt, you can reserve the cooking water for soups or sauces.

STEAMING Put half an inch of water, a tablespoon of salt and a tablespoon of vinegar in the pot and bring to a boil. Put the live lobsters in the pot, cover and steam for 15 minutes for a 1-pound lobster. Add 5 minutes for each extra pound.

POACHED Lobsters benefit from poaching because their natural flavour can be complemented by the addition of aromatic

herbs and seasonings.

To enhance poaching, prepare poaching liquid in one pan with herbs and seasonings such as lemon, chives, onion and celery. The liquid should be sufficient to completely cover the lobster. Simmer liquid to blend flavours.

Have a second pan of water at a full rolling boil. Place the lobster headfirst into the boiling water for 1-2 minutes.

Remove the lobster from the boiling water and transfer to the poaching liquid. Cover tightly and simmer gently (without boiling) until done. Test by tugging on antenna, or small leg, which will pull easily away when fully cooked.

Pre-cooked lobster meat can be very gently poached for short period of time, just to heat it. For a particularly pleas-

ing end result, wrap lobster meat, lemon zest, parsley or chives, a dash of garlic and white wine in plastic wrap. (Substitution: orange zest, dill, pepper and orange juice) Place in simmering water and cook 2-3 minutes. The possibilities are endless when poaching live or precooked lobster.

BROIL Delicious at its simplest lay a split lobster on a broiling pan and brush lightly with butter; place in the broiler about 4 inches below the flame/element. A 1 1/2 pound lobster takes approximately 15 minutes to cook. Serve with drawn butter and lemon wedges. Use your own marinade or basting sauce or remove the meat and combine with a stuffing... the possibilities are endless.

n SEAFOOD

Lobster recipes will delight guests FROM PAGE B12

Lobster Bacon Mac & Cheese Sauce ingredients

1 small clove of garlic, chopped 1 shallot, peeled and minced Âź cup of unsalted butter 3 oz of all purpose flour 3 cups of 2% milk 1 bay leaf 1small pinch of nutmeg 2 cups of Aged white Cheddar, grated 1 cup of Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated Salt & pepper to taste

Method Melt butter in a heavy bottom pot on medium heat.

Add garlic and shallot to the butter and cook for 1 minute.

Add Flour and stir with a wooden spoon until roux is formed.

Gently whisk in milk a cup at a time, being sure to work out lumps.

Add Bay Leaf and nutmeg and let slow simmer for 5 minutes on low heat.

Stir in the Cheese and the seasoning until cheese is completely melted and incorporated.

1 - 1 ½ lb Lobster, pre cooked and shelled, cut into ½ inch pieces.

3 oz of Smoke House Bacon, chopped and slightly cooked.

Crumb topping ingredients

1 cup of Panko bread crumbs (regular bread crumbs will work) 1 oz of Smoke House bacon 1 oz of Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated 2 cups of dry elbow noodles

Method Place bread crumbs, bacon, and cheese in a food processor and mix on low speed until bacon is fully incorporated.

Cook noodles in a large pot of boiling water (no salt) until the noodles are al dente.

Strain noodles from water and add into sauce with the lobster and bacon.

Place into casserole dish and top with crumb mixture and place in a preheated 350Âş oven.

When crumb is golden remove from oven and serve.

Servings: 4 portions.

Source www.tastelobster.ca

Pancetta Wrapped Lobster Tails with Asparagus Ingredients:

6 Rounds Thinly Sliced Pancetta Bacon 6 Lobster Tails (cooked meat) 3 Tbsp Shallots 1 Tbsp Butter 3 Tbsp White Wine 3 Tbsp Chicken Stock 3/4 c. Heavy Cream (35%) Salt Crushed Black Pepper 20 Spears Steamed Asparagus

Method Wrap lobster tails in pancetta bacon.

In a medium non-stick sautĂŠ pan over medium-high heat add butter, pancetta wrapped lobster tails and shallots. SautĂŠ for 2-3 minutes until pancetta in cooked and shallots are slightly browned.

Remove wrapped lobster tail. Set aside.

Add white wine and chicken stock to shallots. Reduce for about one minute and then add cream. Season with salt and cracked pepper.

Bring to a boil and simmer for one minute. Add wrapped lobster tails and asparagus. Simmer for another minute until everything is heated through and sauce is slightly thickened.

Serve.

Servings: 4 Source www.tastelobster.ca

Lobster Butter Delicately pink, delicious butter can be served on fish, lobster or vegetables. Adds richness to seafood chowder, bisque, soup or cream sauce.

Dry the reserved shell of a large lobster in the oven for 15 minutes at 120°C (250°F).

Place shell into a sturdy plastic bag and crush or pound until fine.

Melt half a pound of butter in a double boiler and add the ground shell and 2 tablespoons of water.

Simmer 10 minutes, being careful not to let it boil. Line a sieve with cheesecloth or a coffee filter and strain into a bowl of ice water.

Refrigerate.

Skim off the lobster butter when hard.

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