Increasing Jonah crab numbers a problem for lobster fishermen in parts of Nova Scotia

A burgeoning Jonah crab population is proving a challenge for some Nova Scotia lobster fishermen.

Dan Fleck, executive director of the Brazil Rock 33/34 Lobster Association, says the crabs are having a significant impact on the lobster catch in certain areas, particularly in lobster fishing area 34, which stretches from Yarmouth to the Bay of Fundy.

Fleck told CBC Radio's Information Morning Nova Scotia on Friday that the crabs are a primary food source for lobsters, and the lobsters may be feeding on them rather than the bait in traps, resulting in smaller catches.

He said fishermen in some areas are reporting a drop of 20 to 25 per cent in their lobster catches.

Jonah crabs are a valuable bycatch in lobster fishing area 34 and can be kept for use as bait or for sale if they measure at least 130 millimetres, Fleck said.

But the Department of Fisheries and Oceans does not allow them to be retained in neighbouring LFA 33, though Fleck said he didn't know why the rules differ in the two fishing areas. CBC has emailed DFO for an explanation and is awaiting a response.

Fishermen in LFA 33 asked three years ago for permission to retain their Jonah crab bycatch, but Fleck said it's his understanding DFO is still researching the matter.

He said the presence of Jonah crabs has become especially pronounced this season.

"There are places there where they're just opening the lobster traps and dumping the Jonah crab out because they're three-quarters full or full of nothing but Jonah crab."

Potential for commercial fishery

While the reasons for the population increase are unclear, Fleck said he received a report from experts in Maine that indicated the Jonah crab population tends to be cyclical, growing in number before suddenly dropping.

Fleck said there is potential for a commercial Jonah crab fishery, particularly if facilities were set up to process them.

He noted the crabs fetch far less than lobster — about 80 cents per pound compared to $15 a pound for lobster.

Fleck said the infrastructure already exists to handle a new crab market.

"We've had lobster plants that have closed because they might not have had enough lobster to process in the last number of years and I'm talking about throughout Atlantic Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and P.E.I.," he said.

"I believe that the facilities are there, the workforce is there, the technology and the know-how is there and I think we could make a run of it."

MORE TOP STORIES