The Canadian Lobster Research Network is coming back to life. A first meeting in seven years took place in Moncton on Tuesday. Climate change, at the heart of the concerns of stakeholders in the field, will be central to the organization’s discussions.
Several researchers, fishermen and representatives of fishing associations met to discuss the issues that concern them.
The primary mission of the network will be to answer questions that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans does not answer.
Not all questions fishermen ask are part of the ministry’s mandate
explains Melanie Griffin, president of the network.
Melanie Griffin is the president of the Canadian Lobster Research Network Photo: -
She is also a biologist for the Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association.
Climate change at the heart of concerns
Climate change has been worrying stakeholders in the fishing world for several years. Warming water temperatures impact fish stocks and their movement in fishing grounds.
This brings changes to the distribution of lobster. Certain regions benefit from it, on the more northern side of the distribution, such as Quebec and Newfoundland. Other regions are suffering from it and we are starting to see signs of it in southwestern Nova Scotia.
explains Martin Mallet, general manager of the Maritime Fishermen’s Union and vice-president of the Canadian Lobster Network.
Martin Mallet is executive director of the Maritime Fishermen’s Union. Photo: -/Frédéric Cammarano
The economy of certain communities is so closely linked to this fishing that their survival could depend on it, believes Melanie Wiber, a retired researcher who will be responsible for guiding and supervising the research projects.
We are not currently monitoring the benefits of fishing for these communities
she said, specifying that researchers will also be able to request data from front-line workers.
For his part, economist Pierre-Marcel Desjardins believes that this collective reflection
is positive and will make it possible to cope with climate change.
I think that if we are able to think about better equipping ourselves to face the challenges, that will ensure that the sector will remain strong and will be able to continue to be an important driver of economic development.
Raise funds for research projects
However, researcher Melanie Wiber believes that we will have to be patient. The network does not currently have the funds necessary to carry out research.
We need to find the funds needed for research, we have the funds needed to establish the network, currently
she said.
Melanie Wibert is scientific advisor for the Canadian Lobster Research Network. Photo: -/Frédéric Cammarano
At the time, the network was interested in all species of fish and shellfish, but from now on, it will mainly focus on research on lobster, because stakeholders in this industry have been recognized, in the past, as those which offer better collaboration.
A confidence which, however, has its limits. For example, it is difficult to ask a fisherman’s annual salary according to researcher Melanie Wibert, but it is information that could be useful for certain research, she specifies.
According to the report by Frédéric Cammarano and information from Nouemsi Njiké
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