Gerard's Lobster
Gerard
agriculture, aquaculture, food culture
they all speak to my heart
gerard took the time
for a session of lobster fishing 101
couldn't go out to sea
too rough
soft maritime accent, twinkle in his eye
and infinite patience with two land lubbers
from alberta
did ya' know?
lobsters are harvested when
7 or 8 years old
weigh about 3/4's of a lb.
as with all food commodities
you get more money the
prettier they are...
gotta change that standard
price this year
has not been set by buyer
so they're
fishing "in the dark"
should be set in advance methinks
gerard on board the muriel sea
for 20 years with wife muriel
now a hired hand helps
check 300 traps daily
except sunday
a fisherman's agreed upon day of rest and repair
for body, soul and boat
know it's not politically correct
to use term fisherman
but i'd be proud to be called one
each fisherman has a designated area of the seas
by gentlemen's agreement and
grandfathered in
held by honour but can come to fist-a-cuffs if there's
a miscreant on the water
at start of season
traps baited with herring
set three miles out
very deep
as water warms
lobster crawl
to shallower water
long trek for those short little claws
lobster season in east pei seas is
may and june
july is when
all the little lobsters are born
other fish on the shoulder season
late spring and rough seas
have shortened the
season already
fisherman remind me of ranchers and farmers
it will be better next year
they've been saying that for more than few years now
boats range from $75,000 to quarter million
takes a lot of lobster and other fishes
to get a return
new diesel engine $60,000
investment in latest computer technology
on board keeps them competitive
on-going maintenance during season
and in the winter
gerard educated in biology but the call of
the sea brought him home
he's a voice and an advocate
for the fisherman and his community
his quiet, gentle manner reminds me in many
ways of my rancher dad
fishing days start at 3 am
to get a head start on the winds
that roll off the sea
as the land warms up
a following sea brings them in
safely and has for years
another heroe by my measure
living an honourable life
fishing sustainably and
helping to keep intact
the glue that
melds a community
artisanal fishing maintains the seas
industrial style corporately owned
fishing is raping and decimating
our seas
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