Government Working With Lobster Industry to Meet Challenges, Op-ed Piece

NOTE: The following is an op-ed piece by Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Ron Chisholm.

Our rural coastal communities depend on our resource sectors, such as the lobster industry, for economic sustainability. As Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, I have been working with government and industry to determine solutions for the challenges facing the provincial lobster fishery.

One of the largest issues facing the industry today is the global economic downturn that has influenced the purchase of high-end lobster products in the marketplace. This situation has led to low wharf prices which are negatively impacting many in the Nova Scotia lobster industry.

The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture continues to engage in marketing and promotional activities that enhance the work undertaken by the industry. For example, in December, the department's marketing staff and two Nova Scotia chefs spent two weeks promoting fresh Nova Scotia lobster in Calgary, Lloydminster, Edmonton, and Fort McMurray. The tour included in-store promotions, television appearances and meetings with government and business leaders.

I participated in part of the tour and was impressed at the interest and increase in sales, which, in some markets, improved by as much as 400 per cent. Staff are now looking at ways to use tours to tap into other markets in the future. They are also networking with industry representatives to explore other marketing options for North America and Europe.

There is more work to be done. Over the past several months, I have met with my Atlantic and federal counterparts to discuss viable solutions to the lobster industry challenges. We are continuing to discuss what governments can do to help, and will meet again this month with industry representatives.

Meanwhile, members of the industry has been discussing what they can do to help improve their bottom line. I encourage harvesters and dealers to keep communication lines open and to work in co-operation to improve the industry.

The department has also taken the important step of creating the loans for licences program. Access to capital is important for young fishermen who want to get licences. The program will help finance licences for new fishermen, and help other fishermen get licences for new species. The details of the program are being worked out in partnership with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Capital is expected to be available in April.

Working wharfs and coastlines are also important to our province. This spring, a draft of the State of the Coast Report will be released and Nova Scotians will be asked to provide feedback. Their input will be incorporated into the Sustainable Coastal Development Report, a document that will guide how our coast will look in the years ahead.

I invite everyone with ideas and workable solutions to come forward and share them with us. With the continued support of government, we can effectively tackle many of the issues faced by the lobster fishery in Nova Scotia. Working together, we can make our industry stronger and more resilient to today's challenges and those of the future.