The Tuna Advisory Committee of the PEI Fishermen’s Association, Nova Scotia, has confirmed the bluefin tuna fishery will open Monday 4 October.
The committee has responded to concerns raised by fishers and buyers that too many fish will be landed and severely depress the price for bluefin in the international marketplace.
Committee chairs Walter Bruce, Doug Fraser and Kenny Drake said the decision of the committee was that fishers will be permitted to land one fish per licence in the first two weeks of the season. The committee will meet again to consider arrangements for the balance of the quota to be fished after the first two weeks based on landings.
The fishery in the Gulf area of Nova Scotia was completed in two days last week, causing a glut problem in preparing and shipping the fish to market. The tuna advisory committee wants to avoid the same scenario playing out for the PEI fleet.
