Ian McIsaac, Lobster Plebiscite Returning Officer, today announced the results of a secret ballot vote held to determine the level of support for the creation of a commodity board for Prince Edward Island lobster fishers.

Mr. McIsaac explained that, at the request of the Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association, on March 6, Marketing Council circulated to lobster fishers registered with Marketing Council, a Proposed Marketing Plan developed by the Fishermen’s Association. Based on the contents of the Proposed Marketing Plan, fishers were asked to indicate whether they support or oppose the formation of a commodity board for lobster fishers under the Natural Products Marketing Act.

The results of the secret mail-in ballot are as follows:

Number of producers registered to vote - 674

Number of envelopes received - 404

Eligible ballot envelopes (postmarked no later than March 20, 2015) - 329

Ineligible Ballot envelopes (delivered or mailed after the deadline) - 75

Number of valid ballot envelopes - 300

Number of invalid ballot envelopes - 29

Number of producers voting in support of the Proposed Marketing Plan 227

Number of producers voting against the Proposed Marketing Plan - 73

Number of spoiled ballots - 0

“Based on the Proposed Marketing Plan circulated to registered lobster fishers, 76 per cent of fishers voting indicated support for the formation of a lobster commodity board,” said Mr. McIsaac.

Mr. McIsaac said that the next step is for Marketing Council to assess and discuss the results of the vote with the Fishermen’s Association, after which Council will decide whether to recommend the formation of a lobster commodity board to the Lieutenant Governor in Council.