Lobster Council created to help industry

The newly created Lobster Council of Canada was unveiled in Mill River, P.E.I., Thursdaywith the hope that it will revive the struggling industry.

The council is made up of representatives from fishermen's groups, processors and lobster buyers in Eastern Canada.

Ed Frenette, the executive director of the P.E.I. Fishermen's Association, said he believes the thousands of lobster fishermen and hundreds of processors and buyers in the region will be able to come together to help the lobster market worldwide.

"Right now, everybody is going in their own direction," he said. "There's been no consistency, there's been very little co-operation and not a lot of trust, frankly, between the various sectors."

He said the intent is to develop an international market for Atlantic Canadian lobster and improve the prices for the industry.

Frenette, who is also a member of thecouncil's steering committee, said he understands there are people who doubt whether the council will be effective.

"I think the good faith that's been expressed by both the processors and harvesters from around the region has been extraordinary. And yes, I do think it can work," he said.

Federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea, who announced the formation of the council during a meeting of Canada's fisheries ministers in her P.E.I.riding of Egmont, said the group would be responsible for several aspects of the lobster industry.

"Market development, if it was research, if it was advertising and promotion, so that would go through this body," she said.

"We have a finite resource here. We have 100 million pounds of lobster and we have to maximize the benefit to the region but we can't do that if we're always working against each other," said Shea.

Olin Gregan, executive director of the Seafood Processors Association of P.E.I., said despite past differences and mistrust between harvesters and processors, the two groups would be able to work together on the council.

"The processors can lean on the harvesters and lean on government, and likewise they can lean on us to try and get through turmoil, whether it's bad pricing, whether it's glut fisheries," he said.

The council has $370,000 over two years to set up an office in Halifax and will soon hire staff. The money is coming initially from the four Atlantic provinces, the government of Quebec, and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Fishermen, processors and buyers will fund the group in the future, Frenette said.