Provincial Fisheries Minister Gerry Byrne is suggesting that change is needed in Ottawa to gain better leverage for Newfoundland and Labrador’s calls for joint management of the fishery.

The concept was resurrected after Ottawa recently announced the reopening of the commercial northern cod fishery following a 32-year moratorium.

The moratorium resulted in the largest lay off in Canadian history, driving tens of thousands of people out of the province—a demographic shift from which the province is still trying to recover.

The depletion of cod stocks is largely blamed on overfishing, and many were shocked to learn that the reopening of the commercial cod fishery following changes to scientific reference points, will open the stocks to foreign offshore access.

Byrne says he was taken aback by the federal fisheries ministers’ refusal to discuss the concept of joint management when the issue was raised during the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers’ meeting.

Byrne says change is needed if Newfoundland and Labrador is to make any progress on the matter of joint management.