Canadian fishermen protest Maine lobster

SHEDIAC, New Brunswick — Fishermen in southeastern New Brunswick say their fight to stop cheap Maine lobster from being processed in the Canadian province is far from over.

Hundreds of fishermen prevented a truck from unloading lobster from Maine on Thursday at a Shediac processing plant. The truck ended up leaving with a Royal Canadian Mounted Police escort.

There also were similar incidents at a pair of lobster-processing plants in Cap-Pele, a small town on the Northumberland Strait, 200 miles east of Calais.

There's currently a glut of Maine-caught lobster on the market, depressing prices to about $2.99 per pound. Some Maine lobstermen resorted to tying up their boats briefly, but the glut and low prices remain.

In Canada, fishermen said it's not fair that the inexpensive lobster is being imported just as they prepare to begin their summer lobster season next week in the Northumberland Strait. One of the protesters, Maurice Martin, said the processing plants risk "destroying his living."

The protests followed a meeting called by the Maritime Fishermen's Union where lobstermen were told that local processors may not need as much Canadian lobster. Fishermen have requested a meeting with provincial Fisheries Minister Michael Olscamp to discuss the issue.

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Also in the past lobster at the Maine Lobster Festival has been in fact canadian caught lobster because it was cheaper. It's just some peoples nature to be miserable and complain. Lobstering like any other industry has it's cycles of ups and downs. And it will not destroy anyones way of making a living either. I am a sternman so I am in the industry and speak from experience. Maybe if lobster was a dollar a pound it would hurt their earnings but not destroy them. I just laugh it off and bait another trap. Maine lobster ftw

Mike Lachance's picture
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Wah!

Maybe this is payback for all the lumber that the Canadians take from our forests for cheap to process in Canada and then sell back to us for a profit?

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