Fisheries officials in New Brunswick, Canada, and representatives from Darden Restaurants yesterday signed a pact to promote sustainable lobster harvests.
"There are too many fishermen chasing too small a resource," Fisheries Minister Rick Doucet told Canada's Telegraph-Journal. The two sides have committed to "habitat enhancement, lobster science and management measures."
The agreement in part supports a pilot lobster hatchery project in Shippagan, N.B. Bill Herzig, Darden's senior VP of purchasing, said the hatchery project will boost the region's annual lobster harvest.
Top scientists will be tapped to ensure the lobster fishery is sustainable. Part of the agreement between the province and Darden, owner of the Red Lobster casual seafood chain, means a business plan and annual fishery progress reports will be produced.
