Breakthrough in Lobster Fee Impasse Likely as SW Nova Scotia Buyers Agree to Pay Lobster buyers operating in Nova Scotia’s lucrative southwestern fishery grounds have agreed to pay into a marketing levy fee, although the structure and amount is yet to be determined. According to Fisheries Minister Keith Colwell a plan likely won’t be in place until next year. "We haven't established the amount," Colwell said. "But they [buyers] are talking about the same amount of money, which would be close to $2 million."  In other news the Senate narrowly passed a cloture vote-62-38- yesterday on a bill that will allow lawmakers to fast track international trade deals to the President’s desk for approval. The Trans Pacific Partnership is among the trade pacts that stand to benefit from the cloture vote. “I want to thank the bipartisan group of senators who took a big step forward this morning on a trade agenda that is consistent with strong labor standards, strong environmental standards and access to markets that too often are closed even as these other countries are selling goods in the United States,” President Obama told reporters at the White House.  Meanwhile Senator Marco Rubio reintroduced his “Florida Fisheries Improvement Act” that amends fishery management in the Gulf and South Atlantic regions. The bill does include a provision that would require quota allocations be revised every five or eight years, which has come under criticism from the commercial fishing sector. “We continue to be deeply concerned about proposals by Senator Rubio and others that would force the South Atlantic and Gulf Regional Fishery Management Councils to review allocations based on arbitrary political deadlines,” said the Seafood Harvesters of America in a statement.  Finally, the last round of Gulf shrimp landing data before new season product hits processors shows another increase in the Gulf catch through the first four months of 2015. Higher landings to start the year, plus anticipation of new season product continue to push PUD prices down sharply in 2015. We will be closed Monday May, 25 in recognition of the Memorial Day holiday and will return on Tuesday May 26. On behalf of John, Ken, Peggy and the rest of our staff we would like to thank our Veterans and their families for their sacrifices; we also wish all of our readers a safe and Happy Memorial Day weekend.