Organizers of a lobster forum next week are hoping for another successful event.
The second annual South West Nova Scotia Lobster Forum will be held Wednesday, September 20th at the Rodd Grand Hotel in Yarmouth.
The inaugural event last year was touted by organizers as a huge success.
The forum is hosted by the Maritime Fishermen’s Union, the Scotia Fundy Inshore Fishermen’s Association, the Bay of Fundy Inshore Fishermen’s Association and the Coldwater Lobster Association.
Colin Sproul of the Bay of Fundy Inshore Fishermen’s Association believes that, as associations, they have demonstrated to fishermen and to DFO that they can work effectively on issues.
The agenda includes Fisheries Act amendment, licensing policies and a catch monitoring presentation and workshop and much more.
Judith Maxwell of the Scotia-Fundy Inshore Fishermen’s Association says there are so many issues affecting the lobster fishery like by-catch monitoring.
“I think it has taken the industry, that is not organized, off guard and unfortunately I feel sometimes that they get facts from unreliable sources and then that causes and creates more fear and anger.”
Bernie Berry of the Coldwater Lobster Association says experts from Grant Thornton will be hosting a discussion on proposed tax changes.
“There’s a big concern out there in the fishing industry that this could change the way people are doing business, how they design their companies, tax or estate planning. Some experts say these are the biggest tax changes in forty years.”
The SWNS Lobster Forum is free and refreshments are provided.
To register go to www.lobsterforum.com