YARMOUTH, Nova Scotia – Hundreds of fishermen in western Nova Scotia headed out on the waters Monday for the start of the fall season for Canada’s largest and most lucrative lobster fishery.

The season’s opening day is known as “dumping day” because lobstermen dump tens of thousands of traps into the waters for the season. They can begin hauling their traps on Tuesday.

Some 1,700 vessels are licensed to fish lobster during the six-month season in an area that stretches from Cole Harbor, near Halifax, to Digby.

Ian Marshall of the Fisheries Department says safety is a top priority.

He says the coast guard will have several ships and fast-rescue craft in the area, as well as a Hercules aircraft and Cormorant helicopter in case fishermen run into trouble.