New FFAW-Unifor President Outlines Mandate for Coming Season
After a decisive victory for the new Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor) President Greg Pretty, he has indicated he will be taking a more “vocal and confrontational” approach to union leadership.
“There are times when people have to demonstrate and they have to stand up for what they believe in. I believe we’ve been very successful when we do that and we’re not so successful when we just sit and watch the parade go by. I’m going to bring that to the table. In fact, ...
Project to Collect Lost Fishing Gear Kicks Off in Bay St. George
September 3 saw the start of a two-year project by the FFAW-Unifor to retrieve lost fishing gear around Newfoundland and Labrador as part of a larger national effort to remove ghost gear from Canadian waters.
Early on, participants were happy to report gear such as rope, buoys and lobster pots have been retrieved from Bay St. George.
The project is funded from the federal government’s Ghost Gear Fund and through consultations with fish harvesters, FFAW-Unifor has identified key areas to ...
N.L. Snow Crab Stocks Appear to be Holding Their Own
FFAW Upset Over Precautionary Approach Framework
Above: FFAW officials met with the media to discuss the 2019 snow crab assessment.
After reporting years of diminishing snow crab stocks, scientists at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) are reporting a somewhat brighter picture for the second year in a row.
At its 2019 annual snow crab technical meeting, DFO said the fishable biomass off Newfoundland (NAFO areas 2HJ3KLNOP4R) continues to be at a seriously low level, but has ...
Atlantic Groundfish Council Explains Turbot Quota Transfer
The FFAW-Unifor recently came out swinging after learning the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) approved a deal negotiated by the Atlantic Groundfish Council and the Japanese Overseas Fishing Association that will result in the fishing of Japanese turbot quota within Canadian waters.
The approval of this quota transfer between the Atlantic Groundfish Council (formerly known as GEAC) and Japan is irresponsible and negatively affects thousands of Newfoundland and Labrador fish harvest...
FISH-NL Reacts to Labour Board Decision Dismissing its Application for Certification
After 500-plus years of fishing history, the Newfoundland and Labrador government — through its Labour Relations Board — has finally defined an inshore fisherman.
The definition doesn’t involve trips to sea nor fish landed. From the Board’s perspective, that’s irrelevant.
The definition also doesn’t factor in whether a person lives in Newfoundland or Labrador, has a full-time job outside the fishery, or has ever stepped aboard a boat.
To be considered a fisherman/woman in ...
Fate of FISH-NL Remains Uncertain
No Decisions from Aug. 20 Labour Relations Board Hearing
The Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH-NL) is remaining positive that its mission to represent inshore fish harvesters in the province is still alive and well.
On August 20, the Labour Relations Board held a hearing in St. John’s to determine the definition of an inshore harvester and FISH-NL said it is encouraged that the Board has agreed to consider its arguments to proceed with an ...
The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same
About 23 years ago, I helped lead a team that designed and implemented the cod sentinel inshore survey on Northern cod (Southern Avalon, North East Coast and Labrador).
The status of Northern cod has been in the news a great deal lately and the decision by DFO to cut the commercial quota has been met with some stiff opposition from the FFAW-Unifor. This prompted me to do a little investigating to see what the cod sentinel is telling us about Northern cod.
Based on a review of cod sentinel ...
Issue of Adjacency Needs to be a Priority
My first reaction to a recent news story in The Telegram entitled “St. Anthony Seafoods becomes a seven-month operation the first time in its history,” was to nod my head and think that reductions in work at plants like this is the cause of the decline in our rural Newfoundland Labrador communities.
After a few minutes though, it became clear to me that my initial thought was wrong.
The worries and hardships inflicted upon hard working people, like those who work at the St. Anthony ...
Future of FISH-NL Now in Question
After a wait of nearly 16 months, the Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Relations Board finally released a much-anticipated report into the quest of The Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH-NL) to trigger a certification vote with the aim of representing inshore fish harvesters.
However, the report’s findings might not have been the result FISH-NL was hoping for.
Submitted to the Labour Relations Board on Dec. 30, 2016, FISH-NL’s application for ...
2018 N.L. Snow Crab Quota Cut 17 Per Cent
Fish Price Setting Panel Chooses Producers’ Offer of $4.55/Pound
In the wake of recent positive news that the fishable snow crab biomass off Newfoundland (NAFO areas 2HJ3KLNOP4R) had shown some small signs of improvement and should be on par with 2016 stock numbers, many were surprised when it was announced the overall 2018 quota would be cut by 17 per cent.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) reduced the snow crab total allowable catch (TAC) for Newfoundland and Labrador Region ...
