Lobster season delay extended in some ports

Many lobster fishermen on P.E.I. will likely stay tied to the docks until at least Saturday the PEI Fishermen's Association announced Monday afternoon.

The extension in the opening date of the spring season was decided during a conference call between Fisheries and Oceans and representatives from each harbour involved in the spring fishery in the Gulf. It will apply to fishermen in area 26A, on the south side of P.E.I.

However, some harbours are open and representatives of those harbours will have another conference call with DFO on Tuesday to discuss the possibility fishermen in the area known as 24, on the north side, could be out on Thursday.

Setting day was to be April 30th, and that was postponed to Thursday, May 7th.

The PEIFA says ice continues to be a problem in many harbours making it unsafe to go fishing.  The hope is by Saturday with mild temperatures and some wind the ice will be out of all Island harbours.

In a news release the association says if the ice clears more quickly, the south side harbours could open before Saturday.