Charter tuna boat captains in P.E.I. hope for mackerel closure exemption
NORTH LAKE, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND – Constitution boat tuna fishermen in Prince Edward Island say they’re hoping for an exemption to the latest closure of the Atlantic mackerel fishery.
Troy Bruce, chairman of the P.E.I. Tuna Constitution Affiliation, says the industrial closure is an issue for constitution boat captains on the Island who depend on mackerel as dwell bait to catch Atlantic bluefin tuna.
With mackerel shares critically depleted, federal Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray in March introduced the closure of the fishery in Quebec and Atlantic Canada.
Bruce says the tuna fishery is catch and launch so he’s optimistic one thing could be labored out underneath an exemption that enables members within the leisure fishery to catch 20 mackerel per individual.
He says P.E.I. Fisheries Minister Jamie Fox is supportive of the affiliation’s stance, including that latest conversations with federal officers have been optimistic.
In an electronic mail, Fox’s division confirms a letter was despatched to Murray this week advocating for related entry to the mackerel recreation fishery for the tuna constitution trade, which is value an estimated $6 million yearly to the Island’s economic system.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed June 10, 2022.
