The federal Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, tasked with reviewing Ottawa’s decision to reopen the commercial northern cod fishery, will hear from a series of local players and experts this evening.
FFAW President-elect Dwan Street is scheduled to make a presentation before the committee at 6 p.m. Newfoundland time.
She’ll be joined by the union’s science director, Erin Carruthers, fisheries scientist George Rose and provincial fisheries minister Gerry Byrne.
The FFAW has an application for an injunction before the courts seeking to reverse DFO’s decision, which has also reopened the stock — which is still listed in the cautious zone — to offshore draggers.
The court process has resulted in a number of revelations about how government decisions are made, including evidence that the federal minister ignored expert advice against reopening the fishery.
Unit 1 redfish allocations are also on the agenda at this evening’s committee meeting.