Lobster season is about to begin on the Northumberland Strait. Biologists with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans have been spending a lot of time underwater studying lobster stocks and say the population is strong.

Local fishermen say they hope it will translate into a lucrative season.

Mathieu Gallant is a lobster fisherman in Grand-Digue, N.B. He’s looking forward to getting out on the water, but says he hasn't always been so eager to start the season.

“A few years ago we were fishing for $2.25 and 800 pound limit was as lean as it gets I guess,” says Gallant.

This season there is reason for optimism.

“It seems like the catch in other lFAs (Inshore Fishermen’s Association) have been good, so it should be good,” says Gallant.

Biologists with the department of fisheries and oceans have noticed lobster numbers are increasing. In fact, over the last several years the lobster stock has been at an all-time high.

“With all the measures, conservation we're doing it seems to be getting better, so hopefully at the end run we'll have a pretty good season,” says lobster fisherman David Richard.

Lobster fishing area 25 is in the Northumberland Strait. It runs from Miramichi, N.B. across to Tignish Prince Edward Island and stretches into Nova Scotia as far as Amherst.

Each boat holds a license to fish 250 pots, but there is no quota.

Richard says he hopes to improve on his catch from last year.

“The average catch was between maybe 18,000 to 22,000 pounds, something like that,” says Richard.

Fishermen are hopeful the conservation measures they adopted are working, ensuring the long term sustainability of a fishery that is worth almost $500 million dollars a year in New Brunswick.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Jonathan MacInnis