PEI

Catches down, but lobster worth more in spring fishery

Lobster landings for P.E.I.'s spring fishery couldn't match the 2015 season, but strong prices meant the catch was worth a lot more this year.

Spring fishery catch 13.5 per cent off record 2015 season

More than 1,000 lobster fishermen took part in the spring fishery. (Laura Chapin/CBC )

Lobster landings for P.E.I.'s spring fishery couldn't match the 2015 season, but strong prices meant the catch was worth a lot more this year.

How much lobster is that?

10.7 million kilograms of lobster is about 73 kilograms per Islander.

Break out the potato salad and cole slaw.

According to numbers released by the provincial Department of Fisheries Thursday morning, Island fishermen landed 10.7 million kilograms of lobster in the spring fishery. That's 13.5 per cent less than in the record 2015 season.

But that's not bad news.

Because of strong prices, the preliminary landed value of the lobster is $148 million, an increase of 22 per cent over the 2015 value.

The province said more than 1,000 fishermen participated in the spring lobster season.

The fall season started Aug. 9 and will close Oct. 10.