The first landings of lobster took place at the end of the morning in the 10 fishing ports of the Islands-de-la-Madeleine. While some fishermen expected a more generous fishing, all fear the price which will be paid to them by buyers, in the uncertain economic context.
At the Pond-du-Nord, all the fishermen who returned to the port at the end of the morning, said at the microphone of Radio-Canada that their sockets, on this first day of fishing, were less good than those of previous years.
Some attributed the situation to the strong winds of last week, cold water or to the fact that certain lockers were not previously soaked due to the federal prohibition.
It is a small decrease compared to the past year, it is certain that we expected a little better, but we do not have control on this
says captain-owner Alexandre Bourgeois.
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The lobsters of the Etang-du-Nord hope for better captures in the coming days.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Isabelle Larose
The water is cold a bit, there is the noroît wind, it can be several factors, but perhaps what we do not catch today, we will catch it tomorrow
adds the captain-owner Olivier Renaud.
Beyond the uncertainty of the catches, fishermen apprehend a lower price than last year for their landlord landings, in a context of trade war.
Last week, some lobster from new Brunswick demonstrated because they fear receiving between $ 6 and $ 6.50 per book.
Six dollars, it’s very low
believes Alexandre Bourgeois. Last year, the first week we had $ 8.13 per book, it’s a good price, but this year I don’t think it’s realistic.
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Captain Bertand Vigneau’s boat when he arrived at the port.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Isabelle Larose
For his part, Bertrand Vigneau hopes to receive minimally $ 7 per book.
I think that $ 7 or $ 7.50 per book is like normal, for expenses, bait that starts to cost expensive and petrol
he says.
The Cooperative of Fishermen of the Islands is launching its activities
This first day of landing was very symbolic for the fishermen’s cooperative of the Ile-de-la-Madeleine who became 7e Lobster buyer from the archipelago thanks to obtaining his license in October.
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The workers set out to work during the first arrivals in the factory of the Fishermen’s Cooperative of the Islands of the-Madeleine.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Isabelle Larose
The organization, created in the wake of the bankruptcy of the La Renaissance processing plant in 2023, received its very first lobsters in its new Havre-aux-Maisons factory on Monday noon.
We are really excited to have the first lobsters in the pool, it’s a big day for our organization.
The cooperative has redoubled efforts to renovate a building and build food there, in time for the start of the fishing season.
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Viviers have been arranged in the factory to accommodate the captures of the 32 fishermen of the cooperative.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Isabelle Larose
The president of the cooperative believes that adding a new cooperative buyer could promote better prices for fishermen.
As a cooperative, we will be able to mobilize more efforts on the marketing of our product, we have more interest in doing so because we have the interest of our members who add up the interest of our organization
believes Olivier Renaud.
It can really make a difference, get prices upwards to have more economic benefits in our community.
The fishermen’s cooperative in the Islands-de-Madeleine buys the captures of its 32 fishermen.
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