The province’s fisheries union is optimistic that issues of concern facing the local industry will be heard by a new federal minister.

FFAW President Greg Pretty says the union couldn’t make any progress with former fisheries minister Joyce Murray on reopening the mackerel fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, but the new minister Diane Lebouthillier, who is from the Gaspé Peninsula, is much more open to the union’s concerns.

“She’s well-versed in the fishery, she’s well-versed on seals, she’s well-versed on mackerel… she’s well-versed on groundfish, and she has a very solid working knowledge of Gulf redfish” says Pretty. He says the union is looking forward to meeting the new minister in Newfoundland in the new year to “get mackerel back on the table” and get species like red fish back on the table too.