P.E.I. Shellfish Association wants 2-week delay to season because of COVID-19
'People are scared,' says association president
Oyster, quahog and clam harvesters are requesting a two-week delay to the start of their season. It was scheduled to open May 1 — if a delay is allowed, the start would occur May 15 at the earliest.
"People are scared," said Bob MacLeod, president of the P.E.I. Shellfish Association.
"There's people who fished for 50 years and never had this before, and all of a sudden, through no fault of theirs, no fault of the buyers, no fault of anybody's, there's no markets. What do you do?"
Of the 257 members of the association, 213 voted on the issue last week, with 95 per cent in favour of postponing the start of the spring season — a recommendation the association has sent to Federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan.
Uncertainty stressful
MacLeod said for many harvesters who have done this work for decades, all of the uncertainty is extremely stressful at a time when employment insurance may be running out and major bills adding up.
"You don't know when they're going to get going, and what the price is going to be, or if we're even going to have a season," said MacLeod.
MacLeod said he hopes the association's request will be granted and he expects to hear a response by the end of the week. But, he said, either way harvesters are taking a hit.
"If you take two weeks or four weeks early in the spring season, it's going to put a lot of strain on a lot of folks to get their requirements for the EI," said MacLeod. He said he's been getting the word out to harvesters that they can apply for the CERB, the COVID-19 emergency benefit, but at a maximum of $500 per week, it won't be enough to cover expenses.
"It'll keep you from starving, but at the same time it won't cover the yearly bills that you have," he said.
MacLeod said greater financial assistance may be needed.
In the meantime, he's in contact with buyers about markets and working to keep his members informed.
P.E.I.'s Fisheries Minister Jamie Fox said he's in regular communication with his counterparts in Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and New Brunswick, to determine next steps for the region's fisheries.
"We're in a unique situation here," said Fox, about the collaboration among provinces.
"We're seeing processors, harvesters, and the buyers all coming together. We're all sharing ideas and we're trying to put protocols in place that will be accepted by Dr. Morrison and also occupational health and safety."
He said the fishing industry in P.E.I. employs at least 8,000 people, and represents the Island's largest export market. He said protecting that asset is about working with others in Atlantic Canada to make sure everyone moves forward in a way that is safe and sustainable.
"It's not about us against them. It's us as an industry as a whole in Atlantic Canada moving forward," said Fox.
COVID-19: What you need to know
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