Lobsters can be sold for an extra month
Lobsters caught in Bermuda waters will be on sale for another month in a bid to help the struggling restaurant sector.
Lynn Bardgett, co-owner of the Lobster Pot in Hamilton, said the move was a lifeline for the trade.
She added her restaurant was down to its last 20 lobsters yesterday, but would now be able to buy more.
Ms Bardgett said: “We will have finished them in a couple of hours. We sold so many over the weekend, we had hardly anything left.”
But she added fishermen who were regular suppliers would check their catches today.
Ms Bardgett said: “This is going to be good for business that have lobster on the menu.”
She added that restaurants were not allowed to sell Bermuda lobster from April 1 in normal circumstances, so the trade aimed to use up stocks before then.
David Burt, the Premier, said on social media earlier this week that the lobster fishing season would not be extended, but that the sale of the delicacies would be allowed until the end of April.
Walter Roban, the Minister of Home Affairs, confirmed the decision yesterday.
Mr Roban said: “Normally, by the end of the season, March 31, most of the lobsters would have been sold because of orders from restaurants and hotels.
“Because most are closed, the remaining inventory cannot be sold.
“This will allow the commercial lobster fishermen and commercial enterprises more time to sell their stock.”
He added: “However, the season has ended and there shall be no more fishing for lobsters, either recreationally or commercially, nor can any lobsters caught recreationally before April 1 be sold.”
A Ministry spokeswoman warned that any live lobsters will be assumed to have been caught illegally and should not be in anyone’s possession or bought.