Lobster levy regulations for buyers approved by P.E.I. cabinet

The P.E.I. cabinet has approved new regulations that will see a one-cent-per-pound lobster levy collected from buyers next spring.

P.E.I. Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Alan McIsaac said this is the final step for the province, since the regulations for a one-cent-per-pound levy for lobster fishermen were passed in the summer.

The money will be used for marketing. 

"The regulations are now going to be in place for both the harvesters and the buyers," said McIsaac. "They will be deducting one cent a pound for the lobsters that they fish and for those that they buy. And those dollars will go towards the generic marketing program."

"This is something that is trying to be done right across the region. P.E.I. will be the first one to have this in place and we are going to start in the spring fishery."

The new legislation comes into effect Jan 1.

What about the rest of the Maritimes?

McIsaac noted New Brunswick is expected to bring in similar legislation in the spring and Nova Scotia is working on the same thing. He said eventually they hope to have some generic marketing across the whole region.

The executive director of the P.E.I. Fishermen's Association, Ian MacPherson said the association and representatives from the seafood processing sector will be meeting again later this week to work out some of the details.

"The physical nuts and bolts on who is going to collect it and where will the funds go," said MacPherson. "And certainly transparency is a big aspect on both sides."

"And you know I think we are working towards a solution that will offer that transparency and accountability. So everyone will be comfortable that those funds are going to what they are allocated for," said MacPherson.

MacPherson is confident it will all come together smoothly and will be an efficient process for everyone.