P.E.I. fish processors, the P.E.I. Fishermen's Association and Fisheries Minister Ron MacKinley all met in Charlottetown Wednesday afternoon to find a solution to the low prices facing the fall lobster fishery.

A blockade and angry protest at the South Shore Seafood plant on Tuesday forced the meeting.

Everyone agreed there isn't a quick solution and that hard decisions will have to be made.

The fishermen's association did say they would try to prevent any further blockades of plants currently processing Maine lobster.

'We have to make some tough decisions or this industry is going to collapse, spiral out of control.'—Francis Morrissey, general manager of Royal Star Fisheries Co-op

"Very relieved that at least the association... agreed that there would be no more protests," MacKinley said.

Ian MacPherson, the general manager of PEIFA, says his members still have to agree on the issue of protests.

"What we're hoping is that the fishermen view this as a positive step forward and it's always good to have negotiations going," MacPherson said.

The fishermen fear that when the season opens Monday, prices will be as low as $2 for canners and $2.50 for market lobsters. Many fishermen feel that price is not enough to make it worth the effort.

Jeff Malloy manages the Acadian Fisheries Co-op and spoke for the processors who attended the meeting.

"We have supply and demand that's going to fluctuate, so we are just trying to talk things over right now," he said.

Francis Morrissey, the general manager of the Royal Star Fisheries Co-op in Tignish, says Canadian and U.S. fishermen are in the same boat.

"It's not the fault of the U.S. fishermen or the U.S. lobster, it's the fault of the world economy — where it's at — within 12 months we're dealing with a Euro that was valued at $1.39, it's down right now to $1.22," said Morrissey.

"We're dealing with a dollar that's on parity. We have to make some tough decisions or this industry is going to collapse, spiral out of control."

Both the processors and the fishermen agree that change is needed in their industry but it will take time, and won't solve the immediate problem of low prices this fall.

"Fishermen have to pay their bills and live, and certainly the idea of going out and not being able to make their payments or pay their expenses is a scary thing," MacPherson said.