Pandemic affects Grand Manan fisheries

Grand Manan's fishermen are starting to see fallout from the COVID‑19 pandemic, as markets have been affected. Grand Manan Fishermen's Association (GMFA) Project Manager Melanie Sonnenberg reports that some fishermen are tying up their boats because "the markets have all but dried up." There may be some "little pockets" of demand for product keeping a few still fishing, but most have "not much choice" but to try to wait out the downturn. As of March 20 Sonnenberg had heard the price paid to lobster fishermen was about $4 per pound, and there is speculation it could head toward $3.
GMFA closed their office on March 16, anticipating the emergency closures announced by the province later in the week, and staff are continuing to work from home with a very demanding slate of phone calls and conferences. The harbour manager and lift operator are at home but on call; the demand for boat haul‑outs continues but it isn't a busy time, and Sonnenberg notes that with the "social distancing" requirements there will be no chatting on the wharves.
A lot of Grand Manan's lobster goes to China, and a lot to the USA, although percentages of the overall catch were unavailable. Sonnenberg said this gave them some early indication of the downturn, perhaps more than other industry sectors. She adds that in the summer a lot of lobster from the northeastern states is sent to Canada for processing as well, so the overall effect is "devastating."
She says there was lots of talk about a mandatory shutdown for the lobster fishery, but the consensus is that the industry needs to manage it themselves; the market issue is "not DFO's business." They continue to discuss the situation as it changes "minute to minute."
The only upside Sonnenberg has heard is that for scallop meat counts of 20‑30, the price jumped from $9.50 to $10 on March 19, so some scallopers are still active with local markets.
GMFA staff are pressuring governments to consider financial assistance and stimulus funding, but "it's early days." The fishing industry will have "some dire need for people who are carrying debt," she says. "We have to know how we can keep the community upright" until markets improve. She notes that for its size, Grand Manan is a big contributor to the economy. "We need to get back up and running and they need us to do that." Fear is starting to build, she says, but "information is power. It won't make it go away," but she hopes further discussion with federal and provincial fisheries ministers will produce concrete information about how the government intends to manage things. In the meantime, she says, "We'll try to get through it and look out for each other."