Port aux Basques -
The catch is good. The price is not. That's what harvesters from Port aux Basques are saying about the lobster fishery this year, which opened April 20 in the Port aux Basques area. Charlie Riles said the catch is same as last year, which was a great year by most standards.
"On 150 pots, we're averaging 150 pounds a day. It's excellent compared to past years," he said.
Riles was landing his catch at the Eric King Fisheries' plant on Charles Street.
Fishers are getting $3.25 a pound this year - 25 cents less than where the price was at the end of last season.
A still-struggling economy south of the border is at least partly to blame.
Riles said the price generally drops a bit after the season opens, but he's hoping that doesn't happen this year.
The story was much the same for Jim Stagg, who was landing his catch at the government wharf one morning last week. He said as far as his catch goes the numbers are on par, but the price is disappointing.
He said he and others will continue to fish for lobster this year simply because there's nothing else at the moment.
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