Unfavourable forecasts continue to keep P.E.I. lobster boats off water

The start of the fall lobster fishery off southern Prince Edward Island has been delayed until at least Saturday, with high winds and waves playing the spoiler.

Wednesday was supposed to be trap setting day for the fall fishery, which operates in the Northumberland Strait along the south coast from North Cape to Victoria-by-the-Sea, as well as off northern New Brunswick.

But crews and officials decided to delay the start of the season during a weather conference call with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Tuesday. Another call Wednesday afternoon ended with no consensus on a Friday opening, so another call will be held at 10 a.m. AT Thursday to consider updated forecasts.

The P.E.I. Fishermen's Association says that means Saturday will be the earliest possible opening day.

Other disruptions

High winds on the Island also led to power outages early Wednesday, some morning ferry crossings were cancelled, and the Confederation Bridge restricted high-sided traffic for a time as gusts were measured at over 100 km/h. 

Onshore, peak gusts were measured at between 40-70 km/h and rain was heavy at times, says CBC meteorologist Jay Scotland. 

An isolated risk of thundershowers was expected to continue into Wednesday evening, "and we may see a few lingering showers for Thursday," said Scotland.

"Temperatures will top out in the 18-22 degree range with a fairly gusty 25-50 km/h west-northwesterly wind."

At 8:30 a.m. AT, Maritime Electric was reporting more than 1,500 customers without power, mostly in the Bonshaw area. There were also outages in Cornwall and Charlottetown.

Northumberland Ferries cancelled the 8:30 a.m. and noon departures from Wood Islands, P.E.I.,  and the 7:00 and 10:15 a.m. departures from Caribou, N.S. These sailings would normally be covered by the MV Saaremaa.

Morning sailings by M.V. Confederation continued and the Saaremaa was back in action in the afternoon.