As everyone can attest to, the fishery experiences many ups and downs — in recent years many would argue more downs than ups.
But with 2015 now in the rear-view mirror, a lot of fishermen are nodding in agreement that the year gone by was actually one of the better ones in recent memory. Many of the fishery-related events that made the headlines in 2015 actually had positive overtones — catch rates were up, prices were good and there was little in the way of stakeholder squabbling and bickering.
The Navigator will take a look back at the more notable stories of 2015 that ultimately will make this past year as one to remember.
One of the biggest and brightest stories to come out of the year that was, involved, arguably, one of the most successful lobster seasons on record.
Despite a few seasonal delays due to ice and weather, overall the lobster fishery right across the Maritimes was a good one. Fishermen in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and New Brunswick all reported excellent catch rates. But more importantly, prices were up.
The price per pound harvesters were receiving for the sought-after crustaceans varied from month to month, but overall it averaged out to a profitable $5.50-$6.50. In fact, at one point last winter in Southwest Nova Scotia, buyers were offering an unheard of $11/pound.
Due to an increase in marketing efforts and demand from such places as China, Southeast Asia and the United Kingdom, these healthy prices are expected to carry over into the 2016 fishery.
Lobster was the not the only fishery that experienced healthy prices during 2015.
Despite the constant uncertainty that perpetually seems to surround the crab and shrimp fishery, fishermen were paid some of the highest prices in years for their catches — and catch rates were very good, particular off Newfoundland’s northeast coast.
And as any good enterprise owner will tell you, solid catch rates, plus decent prices, equals a profitable season.
Speaking of uncertainty, decisions over shrimp quotas were not made until late winter. Cuts to landings almost seemed inevitable as DFO was poised to proceed with NAFO’s recommendation to severely slash 2015 shrimp quotas.
However, in March, in the midst of a ramped up protest movement by the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW-Unifor) and the Newfoundland and Labrador government, the offshore and inshore shrimp fleets unexpectedly approved a plan that would see no cuts to shrimp quotas in fishing areas off the coast in 2015 — notably in critical northeast coast Area 6.
Staying on the theme of federal-provincial relations, 2015 saw no progress in the war of words between Ottawa and the Newfoundland and Labrador government over the joint federal/provincial $400-million fund tied to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union.
However, will the newly minted Liberal government taking the reins in Ottawa lead to a thawing of the seemingly perpetual icy relationship witnessed in fisheries policy in this region? Early indications seem to be moving in that direction.
The new federal government has already committed to addressing such contentious issues as CETA, the controversial LIFO (last in, first out) policy related to the shrimp fishery and adjacency of fisheries resources.
The Trudeau government has already moved quickly to announce the reinstatement of the shuttered Coast Guard marine rescue sub-centres.
While the turfing of the Stephen Harper-lead regime was one of the biggest news stories to captivate the country, time will tell if this fundamental political change will be the panacea that many fishing industry watchers are hoping it will be. Stay tuned.
The biggest anti-climatic story of the year involved cod.
A new study into the state of northern cod stocks off Newfoundland and Labrador confirmed a dramatic recovery for a species that became virtually commercially extinct in the 1990s — a confirmation that commercial fishermen have been documenting and commenting on for several years.
The study, co-authored by well-known and respected fisheries scientist George Rose, reported that the cod biomass has increased from tens of thousands of tonnes to more than 200,000 tonnes within the last decade and shows signs of continued growth.
The study, entitled Northern Cod Comeback, was published in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. It put an exclamation mark on the continued chatter for a consolidated and constructive approach to how a renewed cod fishery might work.
Most stakeholders involved with the Atlantic Canadian fishery will tell you that there are still many obstacles and adversity facing this multi-billion dollar industry in 2016. But unlike many years of doom and gloom, 2015 ended with something not witnessed often in the fishery — hope.
All of the issues facing the fishery will never be solved in this lifetime, but if 2015 is any indication, there are more bright lights appearing on the horizon to ensure the continuity and hopefully success of this valuable and essential industry.
