Federal fisheries minister Dominic LeBlanc has met with members of the Maritime Fishermen’s Union over the upcoming lobster fishery off the Acadian Peninsula.
Lobster fishermen are upset by new regulations announced this week to further protect the North Atlantic right whale.
Many of the new lobster regulations announced were similar to those for the snow crab fishery including using less rope in the water and reporting lost gear.
LeBlanc says he’s concerned about altering the new rules and points to a change in the American lobster fishery.
LeBlanc says the Americans have decided to postpone the start of their season after about 90 right whales were spotted off the coast of Massachusetts.
LeBlanc believes without a doubt those whales are heading north and will be entering Canadian waters in the days ahead.
Since last June, 12 North Atlantic right whales have been found dead in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and another 6 died off the Northeast U.S. coast.
