P.E.I. mayors encouraging lobster parties across the country say they have received some quick responses to their call for help for the industry.

Poor demand for lobster and leftover inventory from last year have led to the lowest prices for lobster in decades. Georgetown Mayor Peter Llewellyn and Summerside Mayor Basil Stewart have sent messages to communities across the country, encouraging them to host lobster parties in an effort to pump up demand.

"We had reaction even before we got the request out," Llewellyn told CBC News Monday.

"I got one from a restaurant that doesn't handle lobster currently in Ontario.… They are looking and would love to host a major East Coast lobster supper up there, so I'll be giving them prices and shipping costs. And we had another service club, the Kinsmen in Ontario, they would like to do a big East Coast party."

To make it easy for party hosts, Llewellyn has made all the arrangements to have the lobster shipped. All it takes is a phone call to him.

"We worked it all out for them," said Llewellyn.

"I've met with and talked to FedEx, Air Canada, the shippers. I have prices right now and through the processors and through the industry as a whole. Fresh-cooked lobster can be delivered anywhere in Canada right to the door in any amounts from 30 pounds to 30,000 pounds just by calling us up."

Llewellyn is getting the word out with the help of Stewart, who is first vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Municipalities. Messages started going out to 1,700 municipalities nationwide on Friday.

"Any way we can sell lobster to help the fishermen, to help the economy," said Stewart.

Lobster fishermen are getting about $3 a pound at the wharf this season, which opened May 1, the lowest price since 1989. Fisherman Perry Gotell likes what the mayors are trying to do.

"There are new ideas and people have to think outside the box and come up with new ways of putting more lobsters on plate," said Gotell.

The mayors hope these lobster parties might not just be a one-off idea, and could create a new market for lobsters that will continue for years to come.

(FROM CBC.CA)

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2009/05/19/pei-lobster-parties.html