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 ...
The N.L. Fish Pricing System is Broken
Not only did the FFAW-Unifor come out on the losing end of the snow crab tie-up, the union has nothing to save face.
The local labour movement would be ashamed, if its back wasn’t already turned on the fishery.
Premier Andrew Furey shared a picture on his Twitter account on May 19th to mark the agreement to start the 2023 snow crab fishery at $2.20/pound — the same price set by the price-setting panel on April 6th — 43 days earlier.
I’m not sure which was more shocking: the ...
From Fisheries Mismanagement to Oceans Management
Imagine if the future of the planet was being decided by a small group of bureaucrats and mining bosses in closed meetings in far-flung parts of the world.
Rather than looking at the overall impacts, these meetings only looked at things from one perspective — making sure that the mining companies could increase their takings — and ignoring other consequences, be they environmental, social or economic.
If that were the case, wouldn’t you think there would be an outcry, massive ...
Offshore Companies Get Leg-Up From DFO
In March, the news broke that DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans) spent untold millions completing two weeks of science work for redfish on the Mersey Venture, a 200-foot factory freezer trawler owned by Mersey Seafoods and part of the offshore lobby group, the Atlantic Groundfish Council, headed by Bruce Chapman.
Go on, ‘by. Surely the Union’s not out complaining about the government doing more science work when that’s what they’re going on about half the time?
In an effort ...
Legislation Jeopardizing Future of Fishing Enterprises
Recently, I was out for a little beachside ride on my quad near the once busy fishing community of Black Duck Cove, on Twillingate Island, when I noticed a Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) sign washed ashore on the beach.
The sign read “structure in disrepair — keep off.”
As I picked it up, I thought, not only a literal statement of the decrepit wharf which it had obviously been attached to, but a sad metaphor for the future of so many of our fishing villages.
So, I ...
Price Negotiations Process is Skewed in Favour of Processing Companies
The provincial government recently released the review recommendations for our fishery’s price setting panel late last week.
The review was mainly done in response to the 2022 fishery — where processors refused to sit across the negotiations table from us, refused to pay the prices set by the panel and closed some fisheries down entirely.
2022 was by far the most difficult year of negotiations I can recall as someone who has been around the table now for over a decade. I’ve been ...
Monterey Bay Aquarium Spreading Misinformation About Sustainability of Maine Lobster Fishery
Given the recent recommendations released by Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program for American lobster, we write to share important facts about the Maine lobster industry’s long history of sustainability and commitment to protecting the endangered North Atlantic right whale.
We ask that you will respect the science and evidence outlined below as you consider purchasing American lobster.
In Maine, more than 4,500 lobstermen and women, all of whom are, by law, self-employed, ...
Unsung Hero of the N.L. Inshore Fishery
I am aware and many others have spoken of Cabot Martin’s campaign to make sure that our offshore oil would be of great benefit for the people of this province.
Everywhere you go on the Avalon Peninsula there is proof of what was accomplished.
My story is the little-known fight for our most valuable renewable resource, the inshore fishery, although we were worlds apart prior to our first meeting, him being a St. John’s lawyer and me being a humble fisherman.
I met Cabot in the ...
Seeking Information on P.E.I. Trawler Fishery
I am collecting historical information on the offshore trawler fishery in Prince Edward Island from 1950 until 1993.
The fishery operated out of Souris and Georgetown, P.E.I.
From 1969 to approximately 1984, H.B Nickerson/National Sea operated 10–11 steel, stern trawlers and a processing plant in Georgetown, all acquired from the P.E.I. Government in 1969.
I would like to communicate with anyone familiar with the vessels and/or the operation of that plant.
Also, from the mid-1980s ...
Wild-Caught Fish Has Low Carbon Footprint
Some weeks ago on The Broadcast, former Newfoundland and Labrador Fisheries Minister Gerry Byrne pointed out that wild-caught fish has one of the lowest carbon footprints of all human food sources.
That fact is extremely important for our fisheries as we face ever-deepening problems of climate change and global food supply.
Wild fish has an impressively low carbon footprint — estimated at around 3kg CO2 equivalents per kg of product. That is less than rice, olive oil, poultry or farmed ...
