The preliminary landing figures were compiled by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Forestry for the spring fishery in Area 24, along the north shore of Prince Edward Island, and Area 26A, the central and eastern Northumberland Strait area.

“Total landings in the spring season were 17.6 million pounds in 2003. Landings in 2004 were up marginally, totalling 17.7 million pounds, an increase of less than one per cent,” said Minister MacAdam.

In Area 24, landings totalled 13.9 million pounds, an increase of approximately six per cent over the 2003 landings of 13 million pounds.

In Area 26A, the landings were 3.8 million pounds, down 16 per cent from the 4.6 million pounds landed in 2003. Minister MacAdam notes that this is the second time in the past five years that landings have dipped below the 10-year average of 4.3 million pounds.

“This is a concern to my department, and staff are working closely with the Area fishermen through programs in which volunteer fishers collect daily information on catches and technicians collect biological information while on board fishing vessels.”

In releasing the statistics on the spring lobster fishery, Minister MacAdam said the industry remains a key component of the PEI fishery and a significant contributor to the economy of Prince Edward Island.

Preliminary figures for the 2004 spring lobster landings are based on information provided to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, Aquaculture and Forestry by licensed lobster buyers throughout Prince Edward Island.