By-catch monitoring coming to inshore lobster fishery

For the first time, inshore lobster fishermen in southwest Nova Scotia will have someone looking over their shoulders when they head out to sea later this fall.

It's a change many are unhappy about, causing fishermen to snub their own associationssome of which have banded together to create a monitoring program.

"We didn't want this. None of the associations wanted this, but we have tried to make it better," said HeatherMulock of theColdwaterLobster Association on Wednesday.

The federal FisheriesDepartment wants to gauge how many species,particularly cod andcusk, are being inadvertently caught in lobster pots.

Fishermen turn on associations

By-catchmonitoring requires an at-sea observer on board, whichhas raised the hackles of the area's notoriously independent fishermen.

Many have turned on their fishermen'sassociations, sniping in coffee shops and online, accusing the groups of being stooges toDFOorfavouring offshore fishermen over those who fish closer to shore.

"There's definitely scepticism, there's no question about that," said Mulock, who was speaking at the third annual Lobster Forum in Yarmouth.

Mulockbriefed fishermen on the status of the pilot project and spent much of her time debunkingfalsehoodsabout theprogram.

By-catch monitoring is being introduced in 2018 in Canada's largest lobster fishery from Halifax to the Bay of Fundy, known as Lobster Fishing Areas 33, 34 and 35.

How the pilot project will work

A small majority of fishermen 52 per cent haveagreed to join the three-year pilot program developed by the Southwest Lobster Science Society, a creation of the fishermen's associations.

It will cost each fishermen $499 per year.

Once a season, a technicianemployed by the societywill go aboard with two to three days' advanced notice.

"This will give them flexibility in scheduling and we will own the data. It will be analyzed by a university and we will know what's going on," saidMulock.

"This has been a hugeundertakingfor us.It'snever beendonebefore."

Notifications sent out last week

She saidmanyfishermendid not believeDFOwould carry through on mandatory by-catch monitoring.They received formal notification Sept.11 and 12.

About 900 fishermen will use the existingDFOat-sea observer program.

Fishermen will pay a private company,working forDFO,to supply an observer. The cost is not known.

DigbyNeck fisherman MathewTheriaultis in support of the pilot program even though he doesn't think by-catch is a threat.

"I know we don't do anything wrong butDFOdoesn't believe me," said Theriault of the Brazil Rock Fishermen's Association

"I know other groups don't believe us. This will prove it to them."

Cost shared by Atlantic Fisheries Fund

The Southwest Lobster Science Society applied for funding under the federal government's $400-million Atlantic Fisheries Fund earlier this year.

The Lobster Forum was toldWednesdaythe application has been approved but not announced. The amount was not disclosed,pending the formal announcement.

Deadlines for fishermen to join the pilot project in 2018 closed months ago.

Fishermen who want to join,or opt out,are free to do so next year.