Catches down, but lobster worth more in spring fishery

Lobster landings for P.E.I.'s spring fishery couldn't match the 2015 season, but strong prices meant the catch was worth a lot more this year.

According to numbers released by the provincial Department of Fisheries Thursday morning, Island fishermen landed 10.7 million kilograms of lobster in the spring fishery. That's 13.5 per cent less than in the record 2015 season.

But that's not bad news.

Because of strong prices, the preliminary landed value of the lobster is $148 million, an increase of 22 per cent over the 2015 value.

The province said more than 1,000 fishermen participated in the spring lobster season.

The fall season started Aug. 9 and will closeOct. 10.

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