Fisheries Minister Derrick Bragg stepped into a lion’s den earlier today as he addressed a crowd gathered at an FFAW protest.
The Union organized rallies in St. John’s and Corner Brook to highlight issues around the setting of fish prices.
The crowd was loud during the initial speeches, but things took a turn when provincial Fisheries Minister Derrick Bragg took to the microphone.
Bragg faced heavy criticism from the vocal crowd on the steps of Confederation Building during his speech.
Fisheries Minister Derrick Bragg walked into a lion's den this morning. Here's some of the initial reaction he faced at the podium @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/eYEEuVxFW8
— Richard Duggan (@RDugganVOCM) March 28, 2022
Despite the hostile reception, Bragg remained firm while addressing the crowd, at one point saying that whoever the fisheries minister is, they would have to face such criticisms. Bragg stated that at least he “had the guts, probably more guts the brains” to face the crowd.
And face the crowd he did, as some of the more vocal protestors came up the steps to confront the minister face to face.
One protestor claimed that “diddly squat” has been done about the fishery. Bragg countered that such a statement isn’t fair to say, but the man fired back by saying that he has been fishing for 40 years and hasn’t seen a difference.
Here, a member of the crowd comes up the steps of Confederation Building to confront Bragg @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/Nzy3VQGtLa
— Richard Duggan (@RDugganVOCM) March 28, 2022
One of the most vocal members of the crowd takes to the mic @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/LL1Jf9RgzK
— Richard Duggan (@RDugganVOCM) March 28, 2022
Association of Seafood Producers Responds to Concerns Raised by FFAW
Derek Butler of the Association of Seafood Producers
Seafood producers say the FFAW is doing a disservice to plant workers by calling for more licenses to be distributed in order to increase competition in the fishing industry. The Association of Seafood Producers says there has been no excessive consolidation in the fishery.
Exedcutive Director Derek Butler says the fact the companies have done better allows them to avoid what he calls the “Friday Night Frenzy” of dumping crab in the market so that they could get cash flow in order to afford to buy raw material for Monday morning. The union said that was a problem that had to be fixed but they’re always looking to fix problems which the FFAW has and not the real problems in the industry.
