Nova Scotia: Protest Over Crab Quota

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Cape Breton fishermen have set up a blockade of Inverness Harbour. they have tied three boats together and are protesting this year's crab quota.

The blockade is designed to prevent crab fishing boats from New Brunswick from leaving the dock.

Lawrence MacLellan is one of the lobster fishermen taking part in the protest and is upset that they can't get crab permits but New Brunswick fishermen can.

The four New Brunswick boats are fishing off Cape Breton, landing the crab in Inverness and shipping it off to New Brunswick for processing.

"We've been looking at their crab traps for a couple of weeks and the rumours are they are taking more quota this year," he said .

The lobster season is not going well and this complicates the problem.

MacLellan said it's especially difficult to take this year because the lobster season is going so badly.

"We tried every avenue and this seems like the only right avenue for us at the moment," he said.

There are approximately 90 fishermen taking shifts in the protest and they are allowing local fishermen to leave the harbour.