Opening days delayed for Canada's largest and most lucrative lobster fisheries
![Lobster fishermen Crew members load pots and buoys in Port Medway, N.S., on Monday, Nov. 28, 2022. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan)](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2022/11/28/lobster-fishermen-1-6171758-1669662042375.jpg)
The opening days for two of Canada's largest and most profitable lobster fisheries have been delayed because of bad weather.
The federal Fisheries Department says it is delaying by one day -- to Tuesday -- the opening of Lobster Fishing Area 33, which extends from Cow Bay in Halifax County south to Port La Tour, in Shelburne County.
Meanwhile, the department has yet to announce the opening day for Lobster Fishing Area 34, which extends from Shelburne County around to the southwest coast of the province, because Environment Canada is forecasting gale conditions into Tuesday.
Normally, the launch of the season occurs on the last Monday in November for the two fishing areas, but the Fisheries Department changed the rules to allow for delays due to weather and safety issues.
Representatives from the fishing group in LFA 34 will discuss opening day -- referred to as dumping day -- with government officials and Environment Canada forecasters on Wednesday at 7 a.m. to determine when it's safe to head out.
The department says opening day is automatically delayed if the forecast calls for winds in excess of 48 kilometres per hour.
In a release last Friday, the provincial fisheries minister said boats are heavily loaded with traps and gear, and safety needs to be the prime consideration.
"Boarding boats in the cold and dark, at the mercy of the weather and the sea, makes fishing dangerous work. Safety is a crucial priority," Steve Craig said.
"One tragedy is one too many, so we urge fishing captains and crews to make sure they follow their safety training and take every precaution so they are able to come home safely to their loved ones."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 28, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6959223.1720655672!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
NEW Cottages, burial plots and jewelry: How the capital gains tax changes affect property other than your home
Here are some of the lesser-known ways the capital gains tax might apply to you, and expert tips for navigating the tax.
The U.K. mulls tighter crossbow laws after 3 women were slain in an attack. The suspect is in hospital
A man suspected of killing the wife and daughters of a BBC radio sports commentator with a crossbow was being treated in a hospital Thursday after being found injured in a cemetery some 15 miles (22 kilometres) from the scene of the crimes.
Interest rate cut hasn't led to rush of homebuyer demand yet: Royal LePage data
Despite expectations of lower interest rates prompting homebuyers to leave the sidelines, a new report says the Bank of Canada's quarter-point cut to its key interest rate last month did not lead to a rush in demand.
opinion Biden's debate debacle levels playing field with Trump
In one week, Donald Trump will officially accept his party’s nomination, becoming the standard-bearer for the GOP in November. A recent Supreme Court immunity ruling combined with a failed debate performance by President Joe Biden has seen the Republican challenger’s fortunes rise exponentially.
'Devastated': Ontario woman discovers diamond ring bought in Mexico for $4,000 is a fake worth $50
An Ontario woman who was in Mexico with her boyfriend was shocked to learn a diamond ring they purchased for $4,176 turned out to be worth only $50.
Samsung unveils wearable technology with AI twists
The South Korean electronics giant on Wednesday revealed that both its first-ever premium smartwatch and a smart ring heralding its entry into a niche market will include AI features that are supposed to help people monitor and manage their health.
Hundreds join chorus for Indigenous boys whose singing was silenced
On Tuesday evening, hundreds of people showed their support for the boys by gathering in the village square, with drums in their hands and songs in their hearts.
Former Predators captain Johnson posthumously diagnosed with CTE
Former Nashville Predators captain Greg Johnson has been posthumously diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy following a post-mortem brain tissue analysis.
Woman swept to sea while swimming at a Japanese beach is rescued 37 hours later and 80 kilometres away
A Chinese woman who was swept out to sea while swimming at a Japanese beach was rescued 37 hours later after drifting in a swimming ring more than 80 kilometres (50 miles) in the Pacific Ocean, officials said Thursday.