The Clock is Already Ticking
More often than not, the fishing and seafood industry is one sector of Canada’s economy that doesn’t ever seem to get the credit it deserves.
Canada’s fishery is a major economic driver for both coastal rural communities and major urban centres alike, employing more than 72,000 people in primary harvesting, aquaculture and processing.
In 2018, Canada exported a whopping $6.9 billion in fish and seafood products to nearly 140 countries worldwide.
Jobs in harvesting, processing and ...
The Twine Loft – February 2021
Passed On: Terry Hallett – Clark’s Harbour, N.S. fisherman
Hallett, 58, passed away on December 18 at the Roseway Hospital. Born on April 11, 1962, he was a son of the late Cecil and Beverly (Acker) Hallett. He spent the majority of his life on the water, as a captain for 15 years and eventually as a crewman on several boats.
Passed On: Wayne Fougere – Meteghan, N.S. boat builder
Fougere, 73, passed away on December 10 at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital. Born in Antigonish on ...
On the Waterfront – February 2021
CIFHF Participates in Reconciliation Workshops
Members of the Canadian Independent Fish Harvester’s Federation (CIFHF) want positive working relationships with First Nations in their geographic areas.
As a result, CIFHF members recently participated in seven workshops organized in conjunction with First Nations, the Department of Fisheries (DFO), Department of Justice, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.
CIFHF stated that its members have worked alongside Indigenous ...
When Will We Ever Learn?
In my lifetime, I have seen many ups and downs in this province of Newfoundland and Labrador that I love very dearly.
Although it’s a harsh and unforgiving land at times, I would not want to live anywhere else.
Most of our problems in this province have been made by our politicians.
Let’s go back to the time we entered Confederation with Canada. We are still not sure if it was by choice or as Donald Trump would say, it was rigged.
When we entered Confederation, we passed over to ...
Glimmer at End of the Pandemic Tunnel
It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the global seafood industry to its core.
Traditionally, Atlantic lobster has been one of the key commodities driving the seafood engine locally and around the world. So, what will the 2021 lobster season have in store for harvesters, buyers and processors?
A mere 12–14 months ago, not even the world’s biggest pessimist would have predicted the pandemic-driven fear and turmoil that gripped the entire globe. But it happened and the ...
Tracking Whales With Sound
This Could Be a Promising Innovation, Provided it is Used Properly
The presence of North Atlantic right whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence comes with major challenges: understanding where these whales are found, how many there are and what they do.
Several techniques exist to obtain answers to these questions, including observation from vessel and aerial surveys, tagging and even drones. Another major category of solutions lies in acoustic devices, whether they are underwater ...
2020: A Glass Half-Full View
In 2020, we learned many new things that will help propel our industry forward and we also learned that some of the overall trends in our industry continued unabated, pandemic disruption or not.
Seafood has always had a unique role among the centre of the plate proteins in the North American diet. It is the healthiest protein. It has the lowest carbon footprint and the least environmental impact. It has the greatest variety of taste, texture and mouthfeel.
The downside has been that ...
Investigation Ongoing into Chief William Saulis Sinking
Above: The scallop boat Chief William Saulis. Contributed Photo
As the new year dawned, the search continued for the Chief William Saulis and the five fishermen who went missing with the vessel in the early morning hours of Dec. 15 in the Bay of Fundy.
Aaron Cogswell, Leonard Gabriel, Daniel Forbes, Eugene Francis and the boat’s captain, Charles Roberts, were still missing as The Navigator was going to press. The body of crewman Mike Drake was found the same night the ...
Predictable Reaction to DFO’s Northern Cod Rebuilding Plan
In late December, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) quietly and with little fanfare, released its latest rebuilding plan for the iconic Northern cod stock in NAFO divisions 2J3KL.
And, as predicted by many industry stakeholders, the overall message was to maintain the status quo limited harvesting approach, for now, with this fishery.
Last year, in the midst of other fisheries across the region facing uncertainty due to the worldwide impact of COVID-19, DFO released its latest ...
Nova Scotia Seafood Exports Still Strong Despite COVID-19
Minister Confident Industry is Up to the Task to Overcome 2021 Challenges
Above: Lonnie Snow photo
In spite of the impact COVID-19 had on markets in 2020, seafood exports from Nova Scotia are still expected to top the $2-billion mark when all is tallied for the year.
“Despite the year’s troubles, we are still able to proudly proclaim Nova Scotia as Canada’s top exporter of seafood for five years running, and seafood as Nova Scotia’s highest valued export at about ...
