Within the space of 24 hours in May, the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced its plan to protect some female lobsters off the coast of Prince Edward Island – and then conceded that it didn’t have the equipment to implement it.
DFO officials declined to elaborate, but Ken Campbell, communications officer for the Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association, said that the DFO made its decision too close to the beginning of the lobster season.
“Because of the lateness of the announcement, the company that makes the gauges was unable to supply them by May 1 [opening day],” Campbell said. “There will also have to be additional fisheries officers to certify weights and measures.”
Campbell added that the “size window” for large breeders will be from115 mm (4.52 inches) to 129mm (5.97 inches). He added that the new regulation came about after a series of meetings between fishermen and DFO officials.