Creating Lobster Habitats in Placentia Bay, N.L.
Above: Diver conducting work on reef ball artificial reef. Contributed photos
Artificial reefs, manmade structures used by marine life to provide similar ecosystem services as natural reefs, have been deployed in Newfoundland waters to restore populations of local species, including lobsters.
According to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ (DFO) 2021 Science Advisory Report, lobster landings in NAFO Area 3Ps in 2019 were 64 tonnes, a decrease of 86 per cent since 1992. This ...
Certification Brings Recognition as Seafood Ambassadors for N.S. Companies
Since being launched last June, seven Nova Scotia seafood companies have received certification under the Nova Scotia Seafood Quality Program (NSSQP).
The program provides certification for the province’s top exported seafood products, including live and processed lobster, oysters, sea scallops, Atlantic halibut and 13 other species.
“Companies have been expressing interest in this new program and the certification process. They want to learn more about the program’s benefits,” ...
Fish Harvesters Registration and Certification Board of Nova Scotia Up and Running
A certification process that validates fishers’ level of skill and ability, investments in training costs and support for the harvesting sector are the three main objectives of the Fish Harvesters Registration and Certification Board of Nova Scotia, which was launched last October.
Nova Scotia fish harvesters can obtain and pay for their Personal Fisher Registration (PFR) through the new board for a $50 fee.
“PFR fees collected through the board stay here in Nova Scotia and are used ...
SWNS Lobster Fishery in Winter Crawl Mode
Above: The Zena Marie steams by as crates of lobster are being offloaded from the fishing vessel Big Jim at the Falls Point wharf in Woods Harbour. Kathy Johnson photos
Another North Atlantic winter has set in and the water temperatures have dropped, as have the catches in the southwest Nova Scotia lobster fishery going into February.
“The last week or so it’s come in cold. The catches have dropped down quite a bit in the last week,” said Lockeport lobster buyer Mike ...
New DFO Minister Committed to Supporting the Ocean-Based Economy in Atlantic Canada
From investing more in science, refining stock rebuilding plans, to capitalizing on opportunities for innovation, Canada’s newest Minister of Fisheries and the Canadian Coast Guard Joyce Murray says she is “really committed to supporting the ocean-based economy in Atlantic Canada because it is so critical to so many communities.”
The Vancouver area Member of Parliament was appointed the federal fisheries minister after last fall’s federal election. In an interview with The Navigator, ...
2021 Was Fantastic for Seafood as Disruption Played to Our Strengths
The seafood industry is coming off a fantastic year, despite the turmoil and disruption of the pandemic.
First, some numbers. When I went to analyze what happened with the U.S. seafood supply in 2021, I was blown away by our success.
Using the data through October as a proxy for the year, we imported 4.2 billion pounds, six per cent over the volume of 2020 and 11 per cent over the volume of 2019. The value of these imports was up a staggering 24 per cent from their values in 2020.
De...
DFO Should Not Appeal Category B Licence Court Ruling
About 50 years ago, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) introduced the Moonlighter Policy to remove people from the fishery as a conservation method.
The policy targeted fishermen who held other jobs or professions. It was deemed by government that fishing was not their primary source of income and they were left with a choice: leave your job and maintain your Category A licence or keep your job and be reduced to a Category B licence.
Ultimately, for many this was not a choice at ...
Scientific Processes and Excellence in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region Being Undermined
A Perspective from the Professional Institute of Public Service Canada’s Members From the Newfoundland and Labrador Region
Editor’s note: The following letter was sent to Timothy Sargent, Deputy Minister, Fisheries and Oceans Canada in Ottawa by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada.
The provision of unbiased scientific advice is a cornerstone of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO); the Department has used science advice for decades and it is the ...
On the Waterfront – March 2022
N.L. Government Gathers Input on Foreign Ownership in Fish Processing Sector
An online questionnaire seeking public input on the issue of foreign ownership in the Newfoundland and Labrador’s fish processing sector recently closed.
The survey was a key component of a comprehensive review of foreign ownership in the Newfoundland and Labrador fishing sector currently being undertaken by the Provincial Government.
In addition to the online survey, direct consultations between key fishing ...
The Twine Loft – March 2022
Passed On: Wayne Bartlett – Quirpon, N.L. fisherman and musician
Bartlett, 67, passed away on January 7 at home. He was born on January 5, 1955, in Quirpon, a remote community at the tip of the Northern Peninsula with a history in the fishery that dates back more than five centuries. He spent some time in the fishery, leaving the province on several occasions for work in Alberta and Ontario but always returning to his roots. He is best known as the man who penned and performed some of the ...
