The Atlantic Groundfish Council, which represents year-round offshore harvesters, and OCI called a news conference this morning to dispel some of the misconceptions they say are being spread by the FFAW regarding the redfish fishery.

The Atlantic Groundfish Council and OCI were joined by offshore harvesters and plant owners in calling a news conference this morning, to address a union campaign that they say will mislead the public and politicians into “damaging the future viability of the fishery.”

They say the FFAW is continuously lobbying to take quota from offshore harvesters for allocation to the inshore and that, they say, threatens the livelihoods of thousands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and rural communities that are supported by the offshore.

Martin Sullivan says “species by species”, their sector has been “relentlessly attacked” by the union in pursuing their business and livelihood.

FFAW Responds

Meanwhile, the FFAW has countered industry claims, calling on OCI to disclose what percentage of its fish caught offshore is processed on land in this province, and what percentage is being shipped overseas where workers are paid a fraction of what they are here.

Union President Keith Sullivan says only a small amount of fish landed by the company is processed at its plant in Fortune.

The FFAW expects the province and Ottawa will support the inshore sector being given the majority of the Unit One redfish quota.