Another season of lobstering in the “Gray Zone” has begun with no resolution of the dispute between Grand Manan and Washington County fishermen. At press time, however, there were no reports of cut or vandalized gear despite tensions on both sides of the border.
Both the U.S. and Canadian governments have laid claim to a roughly oval-shaped area in the Gulf of Maine centering on the also disputed Machias Seal Island. The area contains approximately 100 square miles.
Until last season, there was no problem about the zone because of staggered lobster seasons. Last year, fishermen from both sides set and hauled traps during the summer season with growing tension on both sides including charges and countercharges of cut trap warps and destroyed gear.
This year Canadian Fisheries and Oceans Minister Robert Thibault announced that Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 38b would be open from June 30 to Oct. 31, 2003. LFA 38b covers the major part of the Gray Zone.
This area has historically been fished by both Canadian and American fishermen, and this is the second consecutive year that a summer lobster fishery by Canadians has been permitted. Last year, DFO opened LFA 38b on Aug. 15.
“These waters are part of the Canadian management zone and it’s important that our fishers have a presence there,” Thibault said. “This year’s earlier opening will allow them to take part in the fishery while avoiding potential problems with fishers from the United States.”
On Grand Manan, Laurence Cook, who chairs the Lobster Fishing Area 38 advisory council, said that 31 island boats were planning to set 7,500 traps on June 29. “We’ll haul them out on October 31,” he added.
“Minister Thibault’s announcement in regards to the Gray Zone fishery, 2003, was basically what we asked him for and we are well pleased with his decision in regards to our fishing plan,” Cook said. “He has again shown a deep interest in Canadian sovereignty and has demonstrated again that he listens to those in industry. We would like to thank Minister Thibault for his continued support.”
This brought an angry response from Norbert Lemieux, a Cutler fisherman and past president of the Downeast Lobstermen’s Association.
“They say they’re doing this in the interest of conservation,” Lemieux said. “If that’s true, why are they putting twice as many traps in the water as we are? If we’re putting too much effort in then they’re putting triple too much efforts.”
As for the season itself Lemieux added, “If they can come over here when the LFA 38 season is closed, then they’re getting a 12-month season, and that’s just not fair. And my other complaint is that once again we’re not getting any support from our politicians, while they’re getting all kinds of support from their government.”
Cook noted that there had been reports that he and Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association general manager Klaus Sonnenberg had walked out of a joint task force June meeting in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, and added, “Klaus and I left the Gray Zone meeting after it was over. There was no particular amount of tension at the meeting and there were no problems at that meeting. It dealt with fishing practices, such as how gear was set to avoid unnecessary conflict.”