Canada: Cape Breton crab fishers contend with reduced quotas this season

CHETICAMP, N.S. — While many Cape Breton fishers revelled in a strong lobster season, the snow crab fishery dealt with reduced quotas and underwhelming prices. Fishers around Cape Breton reported crab prices around $4 per pound — better than prices which were below $3 at times last year, but in the long run below historic prices closer to $7.50 per pound as recently as 2022. In Crab Fishing Area 19, one harbour manager said the inshore fishery’s quota was cut by more than 30 per cent heading into this season. That’s on top of a similarly-sized reduction between the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Quotas are usually reduced to protect the crab stocks. “In a week, they had almost all of their quota caught,” said Angus LeFort of the Harbour Authority of Cheticamp. The inshore fishery began at the start of July. Area 19 runs from Margaree Harbour to Bay St. Lawrence. Roughly 140 harvesters hold licences in the area. Jordan MacDougall, who fishes out of Area 19, said the catch has been good in ...