P.E.I. fishers welcome extension on deadline for gear to protect whales

Some members of the P.E.I. fishing community are welcoming DFO's decision to extend the deadline for break-free fishing gear until 2024. 

This is when fishers will be required to use gear designed to break under 1,700 pounds to help species like the endangered North Atlantic right whale escape during an entanglement. 

"I mean, we're certainly happy to see it extended," said Marvin Jollymore, a lobster and eel fisher from New London, P.E.I. 

"There's so many questions as to, you know, how long does [the gear] last? You put it in, does it last one season? Does it last two seasons, does it last forever? Is it only good for half a season?"

The new requirements of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans were originally supposed to be in place by 2022. But that was delayed by a year because of COVID-19.

Last month the department announced that the deadline would be extended again for fisheries in Atlantic Canada and Quebec.

"We've learned a lot and we've changed a lot of our fisheries management to protect right whales over the past several years and frankly what we've learned is that we need to be careful about this kind of technology," said Brett Gilchrist, DFO's director of national programs. 

"Every fishery in Canada is different."

The P.E.I. Fishermen's Association welcomes the extension. The association said it will allow for more trials and give fishers time to prepare.

"The right decision by DFO ultimately because to have a successful transition we need to have time to trial," said Melanie Giffin, a marine biologist with the PEIFA. 

"Fishers need to be given the time to put in different options, see what works for them. Because what works for a fisher in one area in P.E.I. may not work for a fisher in another area."

Jollymore agrees. 

"We're always apprehensive in partaking in anything new until it's explored or figured out if it will or will not work," he said. 

"You've got to be concerned about it jumping out of your hauler when you're hauling your gear and lot of stress on the rope. Is that something that's going to jump out and hit you in the hand, break your hand or hit you in the face?"