Shediac disputes P.E.I.'s new lobster roll record

The record holder for the world's longest lobster role is now the centre of an inter-provincial controversy.

P.E.I  fishermen thought they had a new world record on their hands over the weekend.

Craig Avery, the president of the Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Association, said the final measurement of a lobster roll, which included 75 pounds, or 34 kilograms, of lobster, was 79 feet.

Avery said that breaks the record set in New Brunswick of 72 feet, 4 inches.

After the story made headlines on Monday morning, Michel Boudreau, the president of the Shediac lobster festival, quickly reached out to CBC News to dispute the lobster roll record.

"As the Shediac Lobster Festival president … I am proud to report that this year's lobster roll record was 85 feet, 6 inches which is 26 metres in length," Boudreau wrote in an e-mail.

"I am happy to see that this event has stirred up some friendly competition."

"We are very proud to see someone tried to break our record, my hat goes off to them," said Pierre Cormier president of the Chamber of Commerce in Shediac.

Until now Cormier says all of the lobster roll records have been set south of the border and he is thrilled to have a rival so close to home.

"I am happy to see a rivalry between two maritime communities. It's good for the industry and supports many communities in the maritimes."

The Chamber of Commerce uses the giant lobster roll as a fundraiser for student bursaries. 

The giant Shediac lobster roll was made — and enjoyed — during the town's July festival.

Creating record-length — or near record-length — lobster rolls is serious business.

It took more than eight hours to make the giant lobster roll on Prince Edward Island over the weekend.

As well, 32 people and a police escort were needed to carry the roll to a display tent, where it was stuffed with 34 kilograms of lobster meat and 11 kilograms of mayonnaise.

Avery said the quest for the lobster roll record is all part of promoting Maritime lobster.

"A new direction — fishermen are taking control of their own destiny now as we start to market and promote our own lobster and it's working out great," Avery said.

"It'll mean we have something nobody else has … we're going to use it everywhere we go.

Avery said P.E.I. likes to think of itself as the lobster capital of the world, but it has some competition from Shediac, which is home to the world's largest lobster.