Lobster Season Off and Running in SW Nova Scotia
Above: Lobster fishing boats leave the Falls Point wharf in Woods Harbour loaded with gear on Dec. 1 marking the start of the LFA 34 fishery. Kathy Johnson photo
Strong winds and record-setting shore prices prevailed during the opening month of the commercial lobster fishery in lobster fishing areas (LFA) 33 and 34.
The season opening was delayed by two days until Dec. 1 due to high winds. A record-setting opening shore price of $10/pound increased to the $11 range prior to ...
Focus on Blue Economy Needed in 2022 for COVID-19 Recovery
We’ve come to the end of another year filled with uncertainty, with no sign of predictability on the horizon.
No one is really sure what the new year will bring. Stability has been hard for Canadians to come by and it’s something that decision makers and leaders in both government and industry need to prioritize immediately to incite recovery.
In 2022, decision makers are going to have to start implementing serious COVID-19 recovery measures as the pandemic continues to stretch on. ...
Whale Worries are Top of Mind
The lobster season is now well underway in Southwest Nova Scotia and from all accounts, everything looks positive, especially the all-important price per pound.
However, if you head south, crossing the border into the Gulf of Maine, there is much more worry, anxiety and uncertainty and it’s all related to whales, North Atlantic right whales to be specific.
According to the Portland Press Herald, on December 3, the U.S. Supreme Court denied a request to lift fishing restrictions in the ...
Elderly Fishermen Treated Like Class B Citizens
Not many people can withstand the grueling conditions of lobster fishing.
Even less can imagine continuing to lobster fish well into the age of 80. However, this is the reality for a group of aging fishermen across the Maritimes, many of whom have deteriorating health and continue to work against the risks.
Their wish is to sell or transfer their licence and retire. A 50-year-old Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) policy prevents them from doing so.
These fishermen are the holders of ...
Hello from the Other Side
On the far east of our country lies one of Canada’s most unforgettable provinces, Newfoundland and Labrador.
And yet, to our very own federal government in Ottawa, we are easily forgotten, especially when it comes to our fishery resource.
Our nation only joined Confederation in 1949. What most Canadians do not realize is that we brought into Canada one of the world’s richest fish resources — so much so, that Canada was propelled from 14th to 6th place as a fishing producing nation...
Significant Gaps Remain in Canada’s Fisheries Management Regime
The Navigator managing editor’s overview of the Oceana Fishery Audit in the January issue was welcome and invites comment.
I agree with the Audit’s assessment that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ (DFO) management of our fisheries leaves much to be desired and I support Oceana’s goal of improving it. However, I would challenge certain basic elements of its approach that reflect the same mistaken assumptions that DFO’s management itself is shaped by.
First, “rebuilding...
On the Waterfront – February 2022
Fish Canada Workboat Canada Delayed Until March
Master Promotions Ltd. recently announced that the Fish Canada Workboat Canada show, originally scheduled to take place January 21–22, 2022, has been delayed.
The event will now take place March 25–26, 2022, at the Moncton Coliseum.
This decision was not made lightly, but due to the increasing spread of the new COVID-19 variant and new gathering restrictions, Master Promotions felt compelled to take action.
“As always, the health ...
The Twine Loft – February 2022
Passed On: John Efford – Port de Grave, N.L., Former Federal and Provincial Cabinet Minister
Efford, 77, passed away on January 2. Born on January 6, 1944, he was a popular and well-known N.L. politician. From 1985 to 2001, he served as a Member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. He was Opposition critic for consumer affairs, public works, fisheries, health and social services. He later served as Minister of Social Services, Minister of Works, Services and Transportation and ...
Important Lessons From the Past
As you may or may not be aware, the United Nations has named 2022 as the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022).
IYAFA 2022 is aimed at highlighting how small-scale artisanal fishers, fish farmers and fish workers contribute to human well-being, healthy agri-food systems and poverty eradication through the responsible and sustainable use of fisheries and aquaculture resources.
A recent Food and Agriculture Organization WorldFish study indicated that the ...
