The FFAW is calling on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to extend this year’s season, after DFO announced a closure to the Atlantic Mackerel commercial fishery.

The FFAW argues that this closure means the exclusion of many harvesters in the province from being able to fish the stock, something they say has gone on for several years.

President Keith Sullivan says scientific work must be done so that the hundreds of harvesters who rely on this fishery can access it.

The FFAW says local harvesters have participated in the Atlantic Mackerel Advisory Committee for the past five years, but claim the decisions being made by DFO do not reflect what harvesters are observing on the water.