Union Lobbies for Support for Harvesters and Plant Workers
The Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) claims the effects of COVID-19 were slow to hit the fishing industry and is calling for the Canadian government to give harvesters and fish plant workers financial support after the difficulties of the 2023 season.
“We represent people that bring in the new dollars to our province,” said FFAW Secretary-Treasurer Jason Spingle.
“We’ve said it before and rightfully so, there’s been primary industries like farming or the automobile ...
Fish Harvesters Benefit Program Leaves Little to be Desired
While news of $469.4 million in financial aid to help the harvesting sector is being welcomed, the timing of the announcement and the contents of the benefit package left little to be desired, say industry representatives.
“It is unfortunate that for LFAs (lobster fishing areas) that opened in the spring, that the announcement was made the day that over 2,500 vessels hit the water,” said Ruth Inniss of the Maritime Fishermen’s Union (MFU).
“This negated the opportunity for ...
FISH-NL Needs Immediate Funds or Will Fold
The Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH-NL) will close by the end of April and abandon a second attempt at certification unless inshore harvesters step up to the plate and pay their dues.
“I'll say it again, FISH-NL can do this with you, but we can't do it for you,” says Ryan Cleary, President of FISH-NL.
“The FISH-NL executive is not prepared to lead a second membership drive that’s guaranteed to fail and it will fail without the support of ...
Dire Predictions for 2019 N.L. Snow Crab Fishery
Above: David Greening Photo
In a fishery that has been shrinking significantly over the last few years, the outlook for Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab might be worse than many were anticipating.
Scientists with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) recently informed harvesters that the province’s valuable crab stocks are not in good shape at all. In fact, DFO is warning that 80 per cent of the snow crab in the waters off the province’s shores are now smaller than ...
N.L. Inshore Northern Shrimp Quota Continues to Shrink
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) recently announced a 16 per cent cut to the inshore Northern shrimp quota in fishing area 6 — meaning the total allowable catch for SFA 6 went from 10,700 tonnes in 2017 to 8,730 tonnes in 2018.
DFO said the reduction was needed to achieve a 10 per cent exploitation rate.
The cuts in SFA 6 have been dramatic over the last few years. Last year the total allowable catch (TAC) was cut by 63 per cent — from 27,825 tonnes in 2016 to 10,400 ...
Risky Business
The May issue of The Navigator each year is about marine safety.
Consistent with that theme, this column is about the risks associated with catching fish. And there is no doubt fishing is a risky business.
Wikipedia provides a couple of interesting definitions of risk. One is “the potential for gaining or losing something of value.” And the other is “the intentional interaction with uncertainty.” Both seem to be relevant for thinking about risk in the fishery.
Although there ...
FISH-NL Issues Warning to DFO on Changes to Harvester Registration in Atlantic Canada
The following letter was addressed to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) — National Fisheries Policy Office in Ottawa.
As FISH-NL warns the Government of Canada to proceed with extreme caution and to revisit changes implemented years ago in Newfoundland and Labrador because of the conflict of interest created between the Professional Fish Harvesters Certification Board (PFHCB) and FFAW-Unifor, the union that currently represents inshore fish harvesters in collective ...
No Decision on Future of FISH-NL
Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Relations Board Yet to Rule on Application
More than eight months has passed since the Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH-NL) presented an application to the Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Relations Board requesting that the organization be certified as the new bargaining agent for inshore fish harvesters, currently represented by the FFAW-Unifor.
On August 1, the group was once again calling on the province’s ...
2017 2J3KL Northern Cod Fishery Management Plan Announced
DFO advised today that the Northern cod Stewardship/Bycatch fishery will open to fish harvesters based in NAFO Divisions 2J3KL at 0600 hours on Monday, June 12, 2017.
This will apply to Vessel class 292.
Licence conditions will be in effect for the initial period of June 12 to June 30, 2017. There will be no fishery in July. The fishery will resume August 1, 2017 and close on November 30, 2017.
Licences and conditions will be available through DFO's National On-line Licencing System....
Fish Harvester Training in High Demand
The demand for fish harvester training is high and the Fisheries and Marine Institute (MI) of Memorial University of Newfoundland is working hard to meet the need across Newfoundland and Labrador and beyond.
Encouraging young professionals to take an interest in the industry has been challenging in recent years. However, MI continues to provide potential fish harvesters with a variety of options for training to prepare them for careers in this rewarding sector.
Increasing Enrollment
This ...
