(Montreal) Let’s go for the lobster fishing season in Quebec, starting with the launch which took place on Saturday in Gaspésie.
For 11 years, lobster caught near the coasts of Gaspésie and Anticosti Island has had a label marked with an alphanumeric code, which allows consumers to trace the origin of the lobster on their plate, or even to know the name of the fisherman, the boat and the area in which it was caught, recalls the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) in a press release.
The start of the lobster fishery varies by region. This will notably be the case from May 8 on the Lower North Shore.
About 1,500 fishermen make a living from lobster fishing in Quebec, according to the most recent data from MAPAQ.
“St. Lawrence shellfish are the pride of coastal regions and are prized both on local and international markets. Our government will continue to support industry efforts to eco-certify fisheries,” said André Lamontagne, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, on Saturday.
“Lobster fishing boosts the socio-economic activity of coastal regions, particularly those of Gaspésie and the Magdalen Islands,” adds Minister Lamontagne, who urges “fishers and fisherman’s helpers, whether they are novices or experienced, to exercise caution when going out to sea”.
About thirty factories located in the maritime regions hold an authorization from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to process lobster. Landings of this crustacean in Quebec are estimated at more than 201 million annually.