Lobster fishers are loading their traps onto their boats today.
We finally know that the start of the fall lobster fishery, Dumping Day, will happen tomorrow morning.
It was delayed by two days due to high winds and waves on the water.
Dwayne Surette, DFO’s Area Chief of Resource Management for Southwest Nova chairs the weather calls for LFA 33 and 34.
Surette says Environment Canada’s confidence in the weather forecast was high for tomorrow.
“Weather models were lining up more favourably. The forecast was calling for 15 to 20 knot winds for Wednesday, which is below the protocol for cancellation,” says Surette.
He says a vote was held among port reps, and the majority wanted to go tomorrow.
LFA 34’s season starts at 6 a.m., and LFA 33 will go one hour later.
Surette says incidents can still occur, and captains and crews share a role in making sure safety is paramount.
“In the end, the captains make the decision whether they leave the wharf or not. They understand what’s safest for their vessel, what it can have and what it can take. My message to them and all crew members is to stay within your comfort zone and be safe.”
