The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound and negative impact on the fishing and seafood industries in Atlantic Canada and around the globe.
In an attempt to stabilize the Canadian economy, the federal government has already announced billions of dollars in subsidy and aid programs to various sectors, including a $62.5-million Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund aimed at helping the fish and seafood processing sector.
Now groups representing harvesters across the country are also demanding financial assistance from the Justin Trudeau government.
The Canadian Independent Fish Harvesters’ Federation (CIFHF) recently called on the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans (FOPO) to reconvene for an emergency session to limit the damage COVID-19 will cause the industry and coastal communities. The CIFHF is the national advocacy voice for Canada’s fish and seafood harvesters.
“We need the federal government to step up and support the critical fisheries sector now,” said Melanie Sonnenberg, CIFHF President.
“I am sure the minister knows this, but Mother Nature will not wait for government to make decisions to help our industry. Members of the Fisheries Committee must make this a priority to meet to advance support for fish harvesters now.”
“The seasonal nature of the Canada’s fisheries sector has left it exceptionally hard hit by COVID-19, with critical decisions forthcoming about the ability of harvesters to launch their vessels. Canada’s fish harvesters may very well have to forgo critical fishing seasons due to a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for the industry and social isolation all but impossible on a 40-foot vessel,” the CIFHF explained in a press release.
CIFHF has written to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Bernadette Jordan, calling on the government to address the impact of COVID-19 on the sector by addressing the following policies:
- Extend Employment Insurance (E.I.) benefits for a 12-month period for all fisheries workers, independent harvesters, crews and plant workers and include all salmon workers who qualified for E.I. based on the 2018 fishing season.
- Adapt the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) programs to meet the needs of the fisheries sector.
- Waive or reimburse all 2020 federal fees related to the commercial fishery including, but not limited to: licensing fees, vessel registration fees, IQ fees, wharf fees, etc.
- Introduce a program similar to the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) for fish harvesters.
- Review other program elements of the COVID-19 Canada Emergency Response Plan such as the Farm Credit Canada and Business Credit Availability Programs and, where necessary, modify these programs to meet the unique challenges facing independent fish harvesters.
- Deferral of payments and freezing of interest on existing bank and provincial loan board loans related to fishing activity for a minimum of 12 months.
“We are running out of time with our spring lobster fishing season beginning in the next few weeks in Atlantic Canada and Quebec, we can no longer wait on policy from Ottawa, we need action now,” added Martin Mallet, Executive Director of the Maritime Fishermen’s Union.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, the FFAW-Unifor is also calling on the federal government to take immediate action to support the nearly 10,000 harvesters affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The union said fish harvesters in the province are in desperate need of federal support as fisheries open around the province in the midst of severe market impacts and rock bottom prices, most notably snow crab.
“The unjustified decision from the Price Setting Panel chose the ASP (Association of Seafood Producers) price of $2.90 per pound for snow crab, a measly price that is leaving enterprise owners and crew members wondering if they will be able to cover expenses and support their families in the coming months and once the 2020 fishing season ends. Even with the minimum price and Urner Barry formula protected for lobster, that fishery as well as others like shrimp will also require government support,” The FFAW explained in a press release.
“Enterprise owners are seriously concerned about whether they will manage to get through the season without bankrupting, let alone being able to support their families and the families of their crew members,” explains FFAW-Unifor President Keith Sullivan.
“The decision by the Price Setting Panel slashed last year’s crab price nearly in half and to-date harvesters have been left out of support from the federal government while processing companies receive millions in funding and wage subsidies, and will now pay half the price to harvesters,” he added.
The FFAW noted that once harvesters start fishing, they will no longer be eligible for the CERB unless their income is less than $1,000 per month and they have not been eligible for any other recently announced federal programs to support businesses and other natural resource sectors.
“Some harvesters are considering whether fishing this year will just drive them even further into the hole. Many enterprise owners have big loans and at these prices they may not be able to make those payments while covering their other expenses this year. On top of that they are worried about their crew members and aren’t sure if they’ll be able hire all of them back this season. It’s an incredible amount of stress and worry that could be somewhat alleviated if our federal government would step in and help like they’ve done for the processing companies and in other industries,” says harvester Dennis Chaulk of Charlottetown (3L).
On April 25, Federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan announced $62.5 million of new assistance to the fish and seafood processing sector. The new Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund was aimed at helping processing businesses:
- access short-term financing to pay for maintenance and inventory costs;
- add storage capacity for unsold product;
- comply with new health and safety measures for workers;
- support new manufacturing/automated technologies to improve productivity and quality of finished seafood products; and
- adapt products to respond to changing requirements and new market demands.
The Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund will be delivered through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions and Western Economic Diversification Canada.
