No matter when the fishery opens, workers will be dealing with the effects of COVID-19.
That’s the assertion of FFAW president Keith Sullivan.
He notes the magnitude of people who are directly impacted by the fishery, saying it is in the “tens of thousands.” That includes harvesters, plant workers and truckers.
Sullivan says their industry is unique and needs special consideration, but there cannot be a fishery until it is safe for workers.
The FFAW has been working with the Newfoundland Fish Harvesting Safety Association to put together practices and protocols for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Decision on Fishery Rests with Federal Government, says Ball
The go or no go decision on the fishery is one belonging to the federal government.
Many concerns have been raised on how a fishery can go ahead with the current physical distancing measures in place.
Health Minister John Haggie met with officials in his department, public health and the Department of Fisheries and Land Resources on Tuesday evening.
Over the course of the next few days, Haggie says they will be meeting again on a health perspective with fish harvesters, plant worker representatives, and industry.
Haggie says they will try and get a common level of understanding for themselves in public health as to what working in the fishery, be it harvesting or processing, actually entails.
After that they will hopefully have some common ground and issue some informed guidelines or orders if a fishery is possible.
Meanwhile, Premier Ball says it’s incumbent that any fishery would have to be able to proceed in a safe manner, and right now it’s difficult to understand how that can happen in this environment.
He says the focus for them, is that if there is a fishery to proceed it will be a decision made by Ottawa, working closely with the stakeholders directly involved.
Minister Haggie says it is his understanding that no decision will be made on the fishery this month.