On the Waterfront – October 2023
New Commercial Whelk Fishery Launching in Nova Scotia
Diane Lebouthillier, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced that a new whelk fishery will be opened off of eastern Cape Breton in spring 2024.
After monitoring the exploratory whelk fishery in NAFO area 4Vs, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) determined that a commercial fishery would now be “commercially and biologically sustainable.” Whelks are edible molluscs that are predominantly ...
The Twine Loft – October 2023
Passed On: Glenn Feltmate — Moncton, N.B. fisheries consultant
Feltmate, 66, passed away in Moncton, N.B. on August 2, 2023. He was born in 1957. Feltmate worked primarily in the fishing industry. During his career, he worked for United Maritime Fishermen in Moncton and Dartmouth, the Barry Group in Corner Brook, N.L. and with TriNav Fisheries Consultants in Halifax, N.S., as well as with other seafood companies before starting his own consulting company, Donver Ocean Resources Ltd.
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Harvesters’ Opinions Cannot be Dismissed
Agatha Christie once said “Good advice is always certain to be ignored, but that’s no reason not to give it.”
Four decades ago, Newfoundland and Labrador inshore fishermen had lots of advice to give concerning what they were witnessing on the water. Harvester after harvester were reporting that not only was the overall size of cod getting smaller, but catches were only a fraction of what they were years before — certainly before the onslaught of foreign and domestic draggers.
Fi...
The North Atlantic Fish & Workboat Show Returns to Newfoundland This Fall
This November, the North Atlantic Fish & Workboat Show will make its return to St John’s, Newfoundland at the Mary Brown’s Centre.
Pre-registration is now open for the event which is set to take place on November 17 and 18. Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of the FREE Registration promotion currently taking place to guarantee their entry into the event. Not only will this save visitors money but will also fast track their entrance into the show.
Visitors can CLICK HERE to ...
DFO Releases Guidelines for 2023 Stewardship Cod Fishery
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) recently released the conservation harvesting plan (CHP) for the 2023, 2J3KL cod stewardship fishery on the heels of announcing a rollover of last year’s 12,999-tonne maximum authorized cod harvest.
Within NAFO division 2J, the season is scheduled to open on Sunday, July 23 and will close on Saturday, October 14. Within 3KL, the season will open on the same date and run through to Saturday, November 4. As in previous years, harvesters will have ...
FFAW Sees “Overall Positive” 2023 Crab and Lobster Season
The Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) claimed that besides low prices for crab, Newfoundland and Labrador’s crab and lobster seasons are seeing great catch rates of high-quality seafood.
After what Jason Spingle, Secretary-Treasurer of the FFAW, called a “difficult” lead-up to the crab season, with price negotiations between the union and the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) breaking down and leading to a six-week delay in the fishery, things seem to be looking up for ...
Diane Lebouthillier Assumes DFO Portfolio Following Shuffle
Following a cabinet shuffle by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on July 26, Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Minister Joyce Murray has been replaced by Diane Lebouthillier.
Lebouthillier, who previously served as the Minister of National Revenue since 2015, was born in Newport, Québec before she moved to her parent’s hometown of Gaspé. Prior to her political career, Lebouthillier worked as a social worker before she was elected a Prefect in the Le Rocher-Percé Regional County ...
Floundering Like a Ship With No Rudder
When going through my files recently, I came across a letter from former Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Brian Peckford, dated Dec. 21, 1979, entitled Northern Cod Stocks.
One thing in that letter that really sticks out is the statement “the government of Canada is in the process of establishing the shape of things to come.”
What I can say 43 years later is things have only gotten worse with no inquiry into what happened and no plan is in place to try and restore the great cod ...
On the Waterfront – September 2023
Nova Scotia Vessel Sinks off N.L.
The Addie N’ Ainslie, a vessel based out of Sambro, N.S., sank on July 11 while fishing for halibut off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland.
After a split shaft punched a hole in the hull, the boat containing seven fish harvesters began to rapidly take on water.
The crew was able to signal first responders and cram into a lifeboat before being taken aboard a container ship. The next morning, the crew was picked up by the Canadian Coast Guard and dropped ...
The Twine Loft – September 2023
Passed On: Anthony Pothier — Lower Wedgeport, N.S. fish harvester
Pothier, 89, passed away at home on July 13, 2023. He was born on June 21, 1934. From age 14, Pothier fished with his father and soon moved on to owning his own boat. Later on in life, he participated in the Wedgeport Tuna Tournaments as a tour guide. Pothier fished as far away as Australia, where he taught locals to harpoon tuna.
Passed On: Raymond Fillier — N.L. fish harvester and fish plant worker
Fillier, 79, ...
