DFO Extends PEI and NB Lobster Seasons Four Days Past June Closures  Lobstermen operating around Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick were granted a four-day extension to their seasons past next weeks' scheduled closures the DFO announced late Thursday. According to a statement from Canada's Fishery Minister Gail Shea, fishing in all of PEI's gulf lobster fishing areas will be extended for four days past the scheduled June 30 closure. This includes LFAs 23, 24, 26A and 26B. The DFO also extended the lobster season four days in the Maritime region beyond its June 29 closure date; this includes areas in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence and in LFA 36 in the Bay of Fundy. "This decision came in response to current requests from industry to extend the season and was based on several factors, namely that this time of year coincides with the molting and reproduction cycles of lobster," the DFO said in a statement. Alaska’s total salmon haul has eclipsed 4.3 million fish and continues to increase. Expectations are that the summer salmon haul should start to make larger gains once Bristol Bay’s run gets going in the next of couple of days. So far the sockeye run is coming in under forecast, with escapements up considerably. Reports indicate the size of the fish are down by about 20 percent on average by age. In other news Trident has completed its $22 million fishmeal and fish oil production facility in Bristol Bay’s North Naknek region. Trident plans to have the plant running full bore by July and will process fishmeal and fish oil using byproducts from its existing salmon operation also located in Naknek. “Now that Alaska has established a strong record for managing our fisheries responsibly, it makes sense to continue our investments in product recovery and full utilization,” said Trident’s chief sustainability officer, John van Amerongen. Finally, truckers taking seafood shipments from Canada to Boston are concerned that the ferry Fundy Rose will not be able to handle of all them. The smaller-sized Fundy Rose is going to replace the Princess of Acadia by the end of July. The Bay of Fundy’s Marine Transportation Association might add more runs for the ferry in order for the truckers to complete their shipments on time. Have a great weekend.