The FFAW’s objections to Ottawa’s decision to allow offshore draggers back into the cod fishery played out in Federal Court today.

Government reopened the commercial cod fishery this past summer to the inshore and offshore sectors. The smaller boats have caught their quota but the larger boats have yet to catch their 2,000 metric tonnes of fish. The FFAW is seeking an injunction to keep the large trawlers out for the next few months until a legal challenge to the federal government’s decision to grant access to the offshore sector can be heard in court.

The union’s application for an injunction consists of about 10,000 pages of documents, and stresses the risk that the offshore boats pose to the stock because of the methods used to catch the fish.

The FFAW contends that if the fish are not there, the passive gear (gillnets, hook and line) will simply catch less fish, however, the draggers may end up over quota because of the type of gear used, described as “active” gear.

The court will render a decision in the near future.