Source: The Canadian Press
Fishermen in Prince Edward Island have their allocation of bluefin tuna for this year and efforts have been made to impose catch limitations while expanding the season to prevent a repeat of last year’s two day binge.
The P.E.I. fleet sector harvesting plan allows for an allocation of just over 127 metric tons with a season that will run from July 20 to Oct. 12.
Last year low prices resulted after the entire allocation was hooked within 48 hours as swarms of bluefin tuna plied the waters off the Island.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) says new management measures have been introduced to address market concerns.
They include an allocation of one tag per license, the possibly for license holders to form partnerships to a maximum of four tags per vessel, and a catch limitation of one fish per day per vessel.
The one fish per day rule is designed to lengthen the season.
First Nations have also agreed to adhere to the allocation of one tag per license for the fishing period and the catch limitation of one fish per day per vessel.