Lobsters are unloaded from a fishing boat Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, in Portland, Maine. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Robert F. Bukaty
August 11, 2012 - 11:06 AM
FREDERICTON - The Maritime Fishermen's Union says an agreement has been reached between the New Brunswick government, disgruntled lobster fishermen and fish processing plants.
Spokesman Christian Brun says a tentative deal was reached Friday night and approved early this morning by most of the fishermen.
Tensions over lobster prices bubbled over last week, when fishermen in the province held demonstrations in Cap-Pele and Shediac and trucks were blocked from delivering Maine lobsters to three processors.
Processors in the province agreed more than a week ago to pay a minimum of $2.50 per pound for processed lobster and $3 per pound for live market lobster but the union said it wasn't enough.
Brun says the deal calls for processors to pay an additional 25 cents per lobster, to be matched by the union.
That will bring the price up to $3 per pound for processed lobster and $3.50 per pound for live market lobster.
Lobster season in the Northumberland Strait in the southern part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence starts Monday.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012