The fisheries union says between 40 and 50 per cent of their crab quotas will disappear if government goes ahead with oil and gas developments that cut into valuable fishing grounds.
The C-NLOPB released a call for bids last week for two offshore oil and gas exploration areas one of which lies within a marine refuge closed to all fishing activity. The FFAW says no one was consulted on the exploration areas now up for nomination, including a part of 3L, that has been deemed one of the most lucrative crab fishing zones.
Harvester and FFAW Board member, Nelson Bussey who has been fishing for 43 years, says it hurts more than just harvesters. He says it hurts rural communities who depend on the fishery, and as a vessel owner he has a crew, plant workers and more who all need to be compensated.
Bussey says they will stop at nothing to have the decision reversed, and if government wants a showdown, they’ll give them one. He says they will not stand-by and let someone take their livelihood and if they have to, they will go out in their vessels and just simply get in the way.
No Approval for Activity Unless it Meets All Requirements says C-NLOPB
The C-NLOPB says it will not approve any offshore petroleum-related activity until an operator shows it has met all legislative and regulatory requirements and has reduced risks to levels that are as low as reasonably practical.
The offshore operator is responding to the FFAW which is concerned about calls for two offshore oil and gas exploration areas that intrude on valuable crab fishing grounds.
The C-NLOPB says the first call represents the annual Call for Nominations in the Jeanne d’Arc Region and the second builds on a previous sector identification issued publicly in July 2018.
The next step is an anticipated Call for Bids on specific areas planned for Spring 2020.
The offshore regulator says they meet regularly with the FFAW and are open to providing information about land tenure initiatives and potential long-term plans.
Once a Call for Bids is announced and a successful bidder is awarded an exploration license, assessments of regional and/or site specific issues must be completed before any work can begin within the license area. The C-NLOPB says there are other ample opportunities through the assessment processes for groups like the FFAW to provide input.
The timing, spatial extent and nature of proposed oil and gas activities will determine the level of extra restriction or mitigation that may be needed around sensitive areas or other environmental considerations.
