Dozens of fishermen postpone lobster season

About 60 fishermen in the Bay St. Lawrence area of Nova Scotia have decided to postpone their season to protest low lobster prices.

Lobster is selling for $3.75 a pound on the wharf. Some fishermen said that price doesn't make it worthwhile for them to go out to sea.

Their lobster season is set to open on Saturday.

Ray Fraser said he’s hopeful the protest will prompt lobster buyers to offer fishermen a better price.

"We have to take it one step at a time. We have to be positive. We have to think the buyers are going to look at us and say, ‘these guys are right. It’s really hard for them to make a living at this price. We’re going to meet you guys half way.’ There’s no sense being negative here. I have faith in my buyers; I have faith in my fellow human beings that on the other side they’ll come through and this will all be over quickly," he said.

"We’re trying to send a message that we don’t want to be bullied. We don't want the lowest person on the totem pole to suffer; in fact it should be the opposite. Fishermen shouldn't be the lowest person on the totem pole, we should be the highest. Why does the price of bread go up, the price of milk go up but the price of lobster goes down. That’s ridiculous."

Fraser said fishermen need to get at least $5 a pound for lobster in order to make a profit.

Lobster fishermen in all three Maritime provinces tied up their boats on Thursday and Friday to protest the low price of lobster.