FISH-NL Needs Immediate Funds or Will Fold
The Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH-NL) will close by the end of April and abandon a second attempt at certification unless inshore harvesters step up to the plate and pay their dues.
“I'll say it again, FISH-NL can do this with you, but we can't do it for you,” says Ryan Cleary, President of FISH-NL.
“The FISH-NL executive is not prepared to lead a second membership drive that’s guaranteed to fail and it will fail without the support of ...
Dealing with Trends and Countertrends
As the end of this decade starts to draw closer, climate change and the subsequent warming of the world’s oceans, notably the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, continues to be a major concern for the North American fishing industry.
Nowhere is this warming phenomenon more present than in the nearby Gulf of Maine. The Gulf of Maine stretches from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia and it is a key intersection between cold water masses from the Arctic and warm water masses from the Gulf Stream.
The National ...
The Twine Loft – April 2019
Passed On: Murray Ossinger – Gunning Cove, N.S. fisherman
Ossinger, 89, passed away at the Roseway Hospital on February 13. Born in Watertown, Maine, he was a son of the late Hilburne and Eva (Goulden) Ossinger. He was an avid fisherman all his working life.
Passed On: Martin Fisher – Southwest Port Mouton, N.S. fisherman
Fisher, 57, passed away on February 8 at the Queens General Hospital, Liverpool. Born in Liverpool, he was a son of Hazel (Allison) Fisher of Port Mouton and the ...
On the Waterfront – April 2019
Aerial Surveillance Contract Awarded to N.L. Company
The federal government recently announced that it is awarding a five-year, $128 million contract to PAL Aerospace, an international aerospace and defence company based in St. John’s.
This new contract will provide fisheries officers with longer range aircraft, expanding their range of operations and giving them enhanced tools to combat illegal fishing and increase Canada’s maritime security. The contract will also allow high-fishing ...
Experimental Redfish Fishery Brings Hope to Gulf of St. Lawrence Harvesters
Along with other species of groundfish, redfish is a species that is making its comeback in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Redfish is a lesser known species, but it meant a lot to our communities in the 80s and 90s for fishermen and plant workers alike. It’s also a promising opportunity for fish harvesters like myself who have been badly impacted by the declines in the Northern shrimp fishery.
It was the good signs of recruitment that led me to reach out to the FFAW with an idea to prepare ...
Appeals Court Upholds DFO Right to Enforce Fleet Separation
A Canadian federal appeals court recently found that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) acted properly in taking the license of Labrador fisherman Kirby Elson, after he refused to terminate a controlling agreement he had made with Quinlan Brothers Ltd. and Labrador Sea Products.
The agreement, which began in 2003, gave the companies control over the disposition of the fishing license. In return, Quinlans supplied a vessel, crew, financed the boat and reaped the profit.
Canadian ...
Building Trust
In the fishery, we have a trust problem.
It’s a problem with deep historical roots and there are many levels of trust issues, so it is not an easy one to overcome. But we need to find some solutions.
For as long as I can remember, market research has continually shown that most consumers are hesitant about buying fish products, because they don’t understand the characteristics of different species or trust their own abilities to assess quality and turn the fish into an enjoyable meal. ...
N.L. Snow Crab Stocks Appear to be Holding Their Own
FFAW Upset Over Precautionary Approach Framework
Above: FFAW officials met with the media to discuss the 2019 snow crab assessment.
After reporting years of diminishing snow crab stocks, scientists at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) are reporting a somewhat brighter picture for the second year in a row.
At its 2019 annual snow crab technical meeting, DFO said the fishable biomass off Newfoundland (NAFO areas 2HJ3KLNOP4R) continues to be at a seriously low level, but has ...
Shrimp Stocks in SFA 6 Show Signs of Life
Fishable Biomass Down in Northern SFAs 4 and 5
The beleaguered Northern shrimp fishery off Newfoundland’s northeast coast recently received a small shot in the arm — particularly in the all-important shrimp fishing area (SFA) 6.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) held a technical briefing in February regarding the 2019 Northern shrimp stock assessment and to the surprise of many, the stock in SFA 6 finally seems to be holding its own. SFA 6 is where the majority of the inshore ...
