Soaring Diesel Prices Threaten Nova Scotia Lobster Fishery Ahead of Season Opener
Commercial lobster fishermen in southwestern Nova Scotia face mounting financial pressure from high diesel costs ahead of the Nov. 30 season opening, potentially forcing fewer trips, increased inshore competition, and higher market prices.
Commercial lobster fishermen in southwestern Nova Scotia are bracing for a difficult season as soaring diesel prices threaten to reshape operations in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFAs) 33 and 34, which are scheduled to open for harvesting on Nov. 30.
According to the Nova Scotia Energy Board, the minimum price for diesel stood at $2.66 per litre as of Friday. Fishermen in the region report that these high fuel costs will likely force vessels to make fewer trips and stay closer to shore than usual. Donnie Jacquard noted that many lobster fishermen will be compelled to go out less frequently, such as reducing their trips from four times a week.
Kenny Jacquard, a veteran fisherman from Wedgeport, N.S., with more than 30 years of experience, stated that staying closer to shore could strain inshore waters and increase competition among crews. He warned that increased trap density in these areas might clean out all the lobsters before Christmas.
Both Kenny and Donnie Jacquard indicated that high fuel costs also drive up prices for fishing gear and daily living expenses, costs that will eventually be passed along to the market rate. Kenny Jacquard estimated that lobster prices would need to reach almost $20 a pound for operations to remain profitable.
The financial squeeze comes amid broader concerns about catch volumes. Dan Fleck, executive director of the Brazil Rock 33/34 Lobster Association, reported that catches in LFA 34 have dropped 50 per cent over the past decade for unknown reasons. Fleck noted that while harvest numbers in LFA 33 have remained stable, southwestern Nova Scotia remains economically vulnerable due to its heavy reliance on the lobster fishery compared to other Maritime regions with more diverse fisheries.