Is Federal MPA Plan Too Aggressive and Short-Sighted?
With 2019 now in the rear-view mirror, fishing industry stakeholders are looking ahead to the next decade and are anxiously awaiting new federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan to start work on her new portfolio.
As you will see on page 22 of this month’s Navigator, the Nova Scotia Member of Parliament for South Shore-St. Margaret’s recently received her marching orders from her boss, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
There is nothing earth-shattering in her mandate letter — ...
The Twine Loft – February 2020
Passed On: Lindsay Petten – Port de Grave, N.L. fisherman
Petten, 46, passed away suddenly on December 23 while scuba diving with his son. A well-known and respected fisherman, he was the Captain of the Nautical Legend and son of fisherman Ches Petten.
Passed On: Bonnie Fudge – Brighton, N.L. fish plant worker
Fudge, 69, passed away on December 4. She was born in Brighton on July 21, 1950 to Althea and Selby Verge. She worked at her sister, Ida’s, post office and later at the ...
On the Waterfront – February 2020
New Processing Facility to be Built in Digby
Construction is expected to start this spring on a new $14.25-million, 43,580-square-foot seafood production facility in the Digby Industrial Park.
Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) announced in December the approval of a business development incentive in the form of an innovation rebate for fish harvesting and processing company Scotia Harvest Inc.
The company is eligible to earn a maximum innovation rebate of $1,863,333 upon completion of its ...
A Way Must be Found to Reach Out to N.L. Inshore Harvesters
Near the end of FISH-NL’s three-year battle with the FFAW-Unifor, a senior reporter with the local CBC took exception on Twitter to being tagged to a particular clash between the two unions and asked to be left out of the “spat.”
The fact the respected journalist (one-time host of the CBC’s Fisheries Broadcast) easily dismissed so much long-standing labour unrest in the fishery as a petty tiff was an insult to the thousands of fishermen/women who signed FISH-NL cards.
To me, too, ...
2020 Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Mandate Letter
The following is the departmental mandate letter sent to Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Thank you for agreeing to serve Canadians as Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.
On election day, Canadians chose to continue moving forward. From coast to coast to coast, people chose to invest in their families and communities, create good middle class jobs and fight climate change while ...
As the Decade Ends, What Battles Will the Industry Face Over the Next 10 Years
Above: David Greening photo
New Year’s Day 2020 offered a good chance to think about how the next 10 years may be different for the seafood industry.
If you think back to where we were in 2010, it is quite different than where we are today.
Ten years ago, certification was still controversial. The MSC was about to decertify Alaska salmon. Retailers were facing a multiplicity of certifications and ratings and the shrimp industry with BAP and the tuna industry with International ...
Putting the ‘Fisher’ Back Into Fisheries Science
Scientists Reaching Out in Two Key Atlantic Fisheries: Units 1 and 2 Redfish and Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Cod
One of the key challenges facing fisheries management is that of establishing effective communication between fishermen, scientists and decision-makers.
It is no secret that scientists aren’t always successful in communicating their results. Indeed, the frustrations of stakeholders are often hard to hide. For fisheries management, however, poor communication can be ...
Thinking Big
Comparisons are often made between the fisheries in Iceland and Atlantic Canada.
I have made such comparisons in this column and others have made them, as well. In these comparisons, Iceland is usually considered a model we need to follow.
There are good reasons to make such comparisons.
Historically, Iceland’s fishery was similar to ours in Atlantic Canada. We harvested the same species in similar quantities and competed in the same markets. The major difference was that Icelandic ...
Right Whales an All-Consuming Issue for N.B. Association
For the Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association, the presence of North Atlantic right whales on its fishing grounds is an issue it has been dealing with since 2006.
And the organization does not expect 2020 will be any different.
“We have to be at it every single day,” said Melanie Sonnenberg, executive director of the Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association. “It’s consuming us quite frankly.”
When Grand Manan fishermen were first faced with a potential shutdown of their fishery ...
Owner/Operator Cornerstone of Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association
Professional Fishermen Working Together is the motto of the Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association, which is marking its’ 39th year in 2020.
“Owner/operator, that is the cornerstone of our organization,” said Melanie Sonnenberg, executive director in an interview.
“That’s how we started,” adding the association continues to have a very strong voice on the topic “making sure the government realizes the importance of an owner/operator fishery and how the benefit is far greater ...
