Help on the way: MacKay to lobster fishermen

The federal government is hoping to have an aid package for lobster fishermen soon, says Peter MacKay, Atlantic Canada's representative in cabinet.

MacKay,minister responsiblefor the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency,saidSunday thatfederal officials met with representatives of several fisheries groups on the weekend to discuss troubles in the industry.

Many fishermen in the region are demanding federal aid, saying they're losing money because of low prices for their catches.

MacKay said the federal government is considering all options, including buying back some licences and making changes to the employment insurance program.

"There are meetings that are happening now to see what the most immediate needs are so that we can address this, because we recognize that a lot of lobster fishermen and their families are hurting as a result of this crisis in the fishery," said MacKay, MP for Central Nova.

Lobster season a bust, says fishermen

Lobster fishermen, like Bob Patriquin, said the fishing season in the Northumberland Strait is already a bust even though the season started less than two weeks ago.

Patriquin said he wasn't sure how much money he would make from his catch.

"Well, there it is 127 pounds of markets and 47 pounds of canners and that's a good day a double haul because [on] Sunday, we don't fish," Patriquin told CBC News on Monday.

Seals feeding on bait in lobster traps are also causing a problem, he added.

"We went through about 150 bait bags today unbelievable," Patriquin said. "We pay 50 to 60 cents a pound for bait and the seals are stealing it as fast as we can put it on," he said.

Ronnie Heighton, chairman of the Northumberland Fisheries Association, said that while the federal buy-back is a start, more help is needed for the lobster fishery.

"They could extend EI. They could look after, like, the interest payments on the boat loan," Heighton said.

Lobster prices are so low now, a pound of lobster costs less than a pound of bologna, he said.

"Last week, we got $3.50 for canner lobsters and if you look at the Sobeys flyer last Saturday, bologna was $3.99," Heighton said.

Declining lobster market

However, Colin MacDonald, president of Clearwater Foods, blamed the lobster industry itself including the fishermen for the declining lobster market.

MacDonald, who heads the province's largest lobster company, said the industry has "abused its customers" by supplying lobsters that are of poor quality.

"The customer is obviously disappointed with the product otherwise it wouldn't desert the product so quickly," MacDonald said on Monday.

Between 30 to 50 per cent of lobsters landed are not filled with meat, he said.

"We don't deliver on the promise of the brand of lobster," MacDonald said. "Unfortunately, we go to market with inconsistencies with quality, in supply and with pricing."

The current global economic recession has only made a bad situation worse, he added.

MacKay expects a final decision will be made soon.

"It's complicated by the fact we have four provinces and a whole number of fishery associations that are suffering differently in the circumstances," he said.