Competitiveness: Part II
About two years ago, I wrote a column on competitiveness.
This month, I will tackle that subject again but from a different perspective. The topic seems particularly appropriate as we consider what to do with our rebounding northern cod resource, because there is intense competition in markets for cod and similar mild-tasting white-fleshed fish species and we will have to compete for a share of those markets against others already supplying them.
Competitiveness is not a well-understood ...
CFIFH President Outlines Challenges of Future Fisheries
The President of the Canadian Federation of Independent Fish Harvesters began his presentation to the recent FFAW’s (Fish, Food and Allied Workers union) constitutional convention in St. John’s with a question.
Christian Brun asked the union leaders in attendance what they felt was the single-most important threat that will impact the future of the fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador?
He offered some possible answers, such as cod eating shrimp, declines in snow crab and lobster ...
Living Up to Election Promises: N.L.’s Federal Cabinet Minister Outlines Fisheries Commitments Kept and Those Yet to Come
Newfoundland and Labrador’s newly minted representative in the federal cabinet was in St. John’s last month to address a captive audience at the FFAW’s (Fish, Food and Allied Workers union) constitutional convention.
Public Services and Procurement Minister Judy Foote said the new Justin Trudeau-lead government has wasted no time in living up to some of the fisheries-related commitments made during the campaign — with the first being the reinstatement of the Coast Guard marine rescue ...
Positive Prices: LFA 33-34 Lobster Season Starts on a High Note
The LFA 33-34 lobster season is off to a good start.
Harvesters are reporting solid catch rates and receiving in excess of $6/pound for their early season lobsters. It began in August when New England production was lower than in previous years, but boat prices were up. A cold, late spring led to the shedder season being delayed three weeks which precipitated a lack of product when the summer market demanded it.
Prices were 50-75 cents higher than a year ago.
The shedders appeared in ...
Transparent and Accountable: A New Approach to Regulating Aquaculture
Aquaculture in Nova Scotia is an industry that is an increasingly important economic contributor to rural regions in the province.
Last year, the aquaculture industry was worth more than $60 million and employed 606 men and women in full and part-time positions. We have 44 companies actively farming fish at more than 270 sites in Nova Scotia with a young workforce.
In an effort to capitalize on this and address credible concerns about the impact of aquaculture development on our environ...
Growing Optimism in Newfoundland and Labrador
Former Premier Brian Peckford once made the statement “Someday the sun will shine.” The sun is starting to shine on Newfoundland and Labrador.
We have a new Liberal Government in Ottawa and seven members of that government are from this province, so we will have a lot of representation on the government side and we are already starting to see some benefits.
The sun is starting to shine because of the announcement that we are going to get our Marine Rescue Centre back where it rightly ...
ASF Outlines Concerns Over Proposed Marystown Aquaculture Project
The following letter was sent to the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Environment and Conservation.
After thoroughly reviewing the proposal by Grieg Nurseries NL Ltd (Registration Document #1814) to establish a new hatchery facility in the Community of Marystown on the South Coast of N.L., the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) wishes to go on record as being opposed to this project for two reasons:
this project is part of a larger undertaking that will include activities known to ...
New Liberal Government Outlines Fisheries Priorities
The following is the departmental mandate letter sent to Hunter Tootoo, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
I am honoured that you have agreed to serve Canadians as Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.
We have promised Canadians a government that will bring real change — in both what we do and how we do it. Canadians sent a clear message in this election, and our platform offered a new, ambitious plan for a ...
On the Waterfront — January 2016
Man Dies on Lobster Season Dumping Day
A Cape Breton lobster fisherman is dead after falling overboard on dumping day off Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
RCMP told the Chronicle Herald that the victim fell from the lobster boat Cock-A-Wit Lady sometime before 9 a.m. on Nov. 30.
The vessel’s crew pulled the man out of the water and they started providing first aid. The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Halifax had flown search and rescue technicians to the area. They jumped into the water and ...
Twine Loft – January 2016
Passed On: Captain Dan Skinner – North Sydney, N.S. Mariner/Fisherman
Skinner, 76, died at home on November 2, 2015, surrounded by his family, after a brief illness with cancer. Born in Harbour Breton, N.L., on September 30, 1939, he was the son of the late Helen (Mahoney) and James Skinner. Dan was a member of the Northern Yacht Club and the North Sydney Senior Citizen’s and Pensioner’s Club. Prior to his retirement, Dan spent his career at sea — his two long-time employers being H.B. ...
