The FFAW is once again blaming the federal government for mismanaging the cod fishery after they say the season was cut short.

The northern cod fishery in the 3KL zone is closing today after a month of being open, yet the union says many harvesters have only had a few days of fishing.

FFAW President Greg Pretty said the closure comes down to the total quota for the summer already being caught.

He says there is a fall quota of about 3,000 tonnes that will open on Sept. 15, but claims that will only result in about another week of fishing.

Pretty says the union asked for a 25,000-tonne quota but the feds responded with a “little bump” and opened up the resource to European countries. He says local MPs said that was a good thing and they have to honour their NAFO commitments, but “that’s a load of bull,” according to Pretty.

He says the early closure is effectively a layoff for harvesters “at a time when they could be out making money and having a successful fishery, but not with this bunch because their loyalties lie with corporate Canada.”