North Shore lobster fishermen to ask for season extension

North Shore lobster fishermen will make an official request to Fisheries and Oceans Canada to extend their season by the end of the week, says the P.E.I. Fishermen's Association.

South Shore fishermen, whose season was delayed by 11 days due to ice conditions, asked for an extension last Friday.

On the North Shore, fishermen like Robbie Moore, got out on the water last Friday, eight days late.

And while Moore says the catches have been good, they can't make up for an eight-day delay. He paid his crew for the week they weren't fishing.

But there are no guarantees either extension will be granted.

DFO says it will make a decision on a case-by-case basis, but that June 30 marks the end of P.E.I.'s lobster season because it's generally around the time lobsters start moulting, or shedding their shells.

Moulting starts end of June

"Conservation and protection of stocks is a priority in any decision to extend a season," said DFO in a statement.

"As the fishing season progresses, DFO officials will work with industry to determine if season extensions are possible and required. DFO fishery officers monitoring the fishery will be talking to harvesters and checking the condition of lobsters being landed. They will report their findings to DFO officials managing the fishery."

Aquatic scientist Jean Lavallée says those moulting, soft-shelled lobsters rarely make it to the dinner plate.

"Harder for those lobsters to handle the stress of all the handling practices we have in the industry," he said.

While Moore says he understands these concerns, he's certain lobsters won't moult until later this summer.

"The water's cold, so I don't think we're going to see moulting lobsters [on] July 1 or 2 or anything like that."

The fishermen's association says it hopes DFO considers factors like water temperature and makes a sound scientific decision.