SYDNEY, N.S. — Herb Nash knows a thing or two when it comes to the fishing industry, especially in Cape Breton.
The 57-year veteran fisherman has seen good times and bad times in terms of prices and demand for lobster product on the market, but it’s been a while since things were as bad as this year.
“I think this has been the worst year since the 1970s,” said Nash in an interview with the Cape Breton Post earlier this week.
“Back in the 70s, there was just no money, but it never cost us as much to live back then, that was the only good thing – we have the cost of living now and we’re having a bad year.”
Since the season started on May 15, area 27 fishermen have seen the price of live lobster continuously dip. The price began at $5.50 a pound and has since dropped to $4.25 a pound.
Meanwhile, in area 26B that covers the west coast of Cape Breton, prices have also taken a dip. As of Thursday afternoon, live prices there were $4 a pound.
“I can’t remember the last time we sold lobster for $4.25 a pound,” said Nash, the president of the Glace Bay Harbour Authority.
“People are getting a good price for lobster, but for fishermen, by the time the year’s over, we’ll be lucky if we break even after we pay our expenses and our helpers.”
Earlier this week, fishermen were given a quota of 600 pounds a day. Although it looks good, in reality it’s not, according to Nash.
“It sounds like a lot of money, but when you have three or four helpers and you’re running a boat and expenses, there’s just no money at it this year,” said the 68-year-old.
“Everybody is concerned right now – there are people hurting a lot more than us, but we’re hurting too.”
Along with the low prices, the demand for lobster on the world market has also been affected by COVID-19, forcing a backlog in lobster with no place to sell the product.
Marlene Brogan of Ballast Ground Fisheries at the North Sydney wharf has had trouble, like many in the industry, selling her product for the past week.
“I had someone cancel an order on Monday for 300 crates, so that was the start of my back up,” said Brogan. “On Tuesday, the 18-wheeler was here in the parking lot and they told me at 4:30 p.m. the order got cancelled and the truck left empty, another 300-crate loss.”
Prior to the season opening in Cape Breton, the federal government announced close to $470 million to support fisheries. It includes a new $267.6-million benefit which covers 75 per cent of losses, up to $10,000, for fishermen who see income drop 25 per cent during the season.
However, there are requirements fishermen need to meet before they’re eligible for federal support.
Because of the lack of demand for the product, North Sydney fishermen all agreed to stay docked Thursday and Friday in an attempt to clear the backlog.
“What’s the sense going out if you can’t sell your product when you get in?” said Brogan. “I think North Sydney fishermen have set a precedent that all area 27 fishermen should follow – they should stop for two days and let the industry try to correct itself before it’s too late.”
Nash said one idea talked about was the potential of splitting the two-month season – fishing for a month in the spring and again the last week in September — if given permission.
“If we went a month we probably would have been able to sell everything people were catching because people would only have had a month to get them,” said the Glace Bay resident.
“The second month we would be the only ones open, if they would have let us do that – we wanted to do the science work and make sure the lobsters were in good shape.”
“I think this has been the worst year since the 1970s,” — Veteran fisherman Herb Nash
Nash believes if the season was split, the prices would be better for the fishermen.
“The month in the fall would have been excellent for us because we would have received $7 or $7.50 a pound at that time for the month,” said Nash. “All we can do is keep pressing and maybe down the road people will realize it’s a good idea and to try it.”
As uncertainty continues in the world’s economy because of COVID-19, fishermen don’t know what to expect for the remainder of the year.
“If they break even, most of them are going to be satisfied with getting their bills paid,” said Nash. “I don’t think things are going to pick up much, but if we can keep going out and getting 600 pounds a day and the weather stays good, we’ll come out of it.”
The Cape Breton Post has been told some fishermen at other ports on the island are considering keeping their boats docked if things don’t improve, however, it’s unknown when or if it will happen.
Lobster season is area 26B was originally scheduled to begin on April 30, however, it was delayed two weeks because of the pandemic. They started on May 15. The season there will end on June 30.
As for area 27, the season will officially wrap up on July 15.
