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N.S. fishermen told DFO willing to discuss crab quota changes for next year

Article online since May 19th 2008, 23:00
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ANTIGONISH, N.S. - The federal Fisheries Department has told a group of Cape Breton fishermen that it's open to discussing changes to the snow crab quota, but not for this year.

The lobster fishermen from Inverness County say a piece of the lucrative crab quota could help turn around their season, which has been hit hard by soaring fuel costs, poor catches and low prices.

Fisheries spokesman Michel Therrien said the fishermen were told that this year's allocation can't be changed during a meeting with department officials Monday in Antigonish.

"As the 2008 plan has been announced, it is difficult to modify the plan in mid-course," said Therrien. "We are open to discussing with fishermen options for 2009 and beyond."

Fishermen used their boats to barricade the mouth of Inverness harbour late last week, preventing New Brunswick crab fishermen from leaving the wharf and setting their traps in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

The New Brunswickers eventually left their idle boats.

The blockade was called off Sunday following a rally in support of the Cape Breton fishermen.

Prior to the meeting, Lawrence MacLellan, a lobster fisherman from Inverness, said he didn't expect the Fisheries Department to hand over licences and permits, but talking would be a good start.

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