BY ROBERT JENKINS
GUEST OPINION
With the 2018 spring lobster season fast approaching, many Islanders anticipate feasting on delicious Prince Edward Island lobster over the next six months from both our spring and fall fisheries.
The Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Association and the Lobster Fishers of Prince Edward Island Marketing Board continue to take a leadership role in promoting our live and frozen products locally, nationally and internationally.
Our lobster harvesters lead Atlantic Canada in the collection of a per pound levy that is directly invested back into the promotion of Prince Edward Island lobster.
Direct sponsorships of events such as Tignish Lobster on the Point, Lobster Party on the Beach, the Summerside Lobster Carnival and the new Souris Lobster Festival are all examples of our harvester organizations working hand in hand with local groups and government departments to showcase our lobster to Canada and beyond. We greatly appreciate the support these events have received both locally and from our Island visitors.
Additional new and exciting promotional initiatives are planned for 2018 as we move forward with year three of this historic program.
Recently, our lobster harvesters have strongly supported a new initiative that provides cost-sharing on equipment that is purchased to assist in keeping the quality of our caught lobsters as high as possible.
This $4.6 million initiative of the federal government, the province of Prince Edward Island and the PEIFA, is a positive partnership of industry and government working together to increase and preserve the value of our lobster.
The consumer market has and will continue to dictate the shore prices that are paid in both the spring and fall seasons. Our organizational focus is the maximization of value for all P.E.l. lobster products sold.
By participating in ongoing promotional efforts, upgrading on board storage systems and by taking a continued leadership role in Atlantic Canada, all lobster harvesters and their local communities will continue to benefit from tip to tip on Prince Edward Island.
We are hopeful that 2018 will bring positive landings and favourable prices resulting in a prosperous lobster season for all our spring and fall harvesters.
Robert H. Jenkins is president of the Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association
