Protests Over Maine Lobster Continue in Canada
Fishermen in New Brunswick expanded their protests demanding that lobster processing plants not accept low-priced Maine lobster, while more fishermen on Prince Edward Island joined the protests Tuesday.
Lobstermen last week blockaded plants in Shediac and Cap-Pele, New Brunswick, blocking trucks from delivering Maine lobsters and raising concerns among lobster dealers in in the state who ship tens of millions of pounds of product to Canadian processors each year.
Fishermen on Tuesday headed for another processing plant in New Brunswick, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported. On Prince Edward Island, a group of 200 fishermen showed up at the gates of a processor and threatened to stop trucks carrying Maine-caught lobster. Fishermen said the plant owners have agreed not to bring in any more U.S. lobsters for now.
Canadian lobstermen say the low price of Maine lobsters is driving down the price they’ll get for their catch when their seasons open. Videos and photos show protesting Canadian lobstermen dumping Maine lobsters in the street and holdings signs saying things like, “No More U.S. Lobster.”
In Maine, state officials and lobster dealers are concerned the blockades will back up lobster supplies on the U.S. side of the border, creating even more of a glut that already has driven down prices to 20-year lows.