The FFAW is requesting a meeting with the federal fisheries minister to discuss redfish quota allocations in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The fisheries union says harvesters are devastated to learn that 60 per cent of the allocation is going to the offshore fleet based in Nova Scotia.
Gulf area harvesters in this province were hoping for a buyout of their shrimp licences in light of significant quota cuts, and a greater share of redfish to make the transition.
FFAW President Greg Pretty says Ottawa’s announcement means “economic devastation” for hundreds of harvesters in this province.
FFAW President Greg Pretty
“Under this crazy regime, they’ll get 62 tonnes” says Pretty “for the uninitiated, that’s about 130,000 pounds of redfish out of that quota, which is not enough to pay for the fuel.”
Pretty accuses DFO of losing its moral compass citing the overfishing that took place in the Gulf in the 1970s.
“The non-Gulf based stern trawlers, lost their access to Gulf redfish in 1976, because in essence they overfished the entire works,” says Pretty. “Don’t forget, this isn’t the Atlantic Ocean we’re talking about, this is the Gulf…they lost access to it, because they were too hard on the species.” Now, says Pretty, DFO is allowing the same fleet to go right back in, without thinking about the history of the fishery in the region.
Fisheries Minister Provides Update
Federal Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier this morning provided an update on redfish allocations and plans to assist shrimp harvesters in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
She says the Total Allowable Catch has not been decided and will not be decided until the Redfish Advisory Committee has been consulted and submits its recommendations to her.
She urged harvesters to avoid escalation of the current situation “through outbursts and speculation.”
She says Nova Scotia historically had the lead in terms of shares when the fishery closed in 1993 and that remains the case today, but when it comes to Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, PEI and Quebec, “their shares have not only been respected, but even increased.”
She told an audience in Quebec this morning that assistance will be provided to Quebec fishermen and processing plants affected by the drop in shrimp and turbot catches.
