PEI

Weather delays P.E.I.'s North Shore lobster fishery again

High winds have forced another postponement of the lobster fishing season off P.E.I.’s North Shore.

Season was due to start Monday

Several people standing around a lobster boat. The sun, low in the sky, is reflected on calm water.
The lobster season opened on a cold and calm day Saturday in the eastern end of the Northumberland Strait. (Stacey Janzer/CBC)

High winds have forced another postponement of the lobster fishing season off P.E.I.'s North Shore.

On a conference call with lobster fishers Tuesday morning, Fisheries and Oceans Canada called off a planned opening for Thursday.

The marine forecast Tuesday for the Gulf of St. Lawrence includes a strong wind warning, with winds blowing out of the northwest at 25 to 30 knots, or 45 to 55 km/h. Those winds are expected to continue to blow at that strength through Friday.

The affected area is known as LFA 24, which runs along the North Shore from East Point to North Cape.

Fisheries and Oceans is planning another conference call Wednesday about potentially opening the season on Friday. LFA 24 was originally scheduled to open for fishing Monday.

P.E.I. fishers in LFA 26A, in the Northumberland Strait from Victoria to East Point, opened their season on Saturday. That season was also delayed by weather, but only by a day.