The FFAW is accusing DFO of pulling a fast one with its new management plan for the redfish stock.
They’re calling release of the plan late on a Friday evening, after regular business hours, a cowardly move. They say it amounts to a further transfer of the resource from owner-operators to the big corporations.
The union notes nearly 60 per cent of the redfish quota was handed to corporate fleets earlier this year—saying that’s “despite the inshore, owner-operator fleet having taken the lead on science and sustainability measures in recent years.”
Photo courtesy of R. Larocque, DFO.
The FFAW says with the Gulf shrimp fishery all but closed and non-shrimp fishers waiting for redfish to return, this is another blow to a group that’s been in survival mode for the last several years.
The union is also calling out the province’s Liberal MPs for their silence and lack of intervention.
FFAW president Greg Pretty says fishers have once again been maligned by them.
“Sadly, their strings continue to be plucked by the offshore groundfish oligarchy. We all pine for the days of strong, vocal MPs rising in the House of Commons with strident support for NL’s most vital industry,” Pretty says. “We haven’t seen their likes in a long time. And the plucking is far from over as all eyes turn toward a potential northern cod giveaway.”
The redfish plan states a total allowable catch of 60,000 tonnes has been established for one year, effective May 15th of this year.
The FFAW says they can only hope it will be for one year, and that there’ll be some fish left for owner/operators next year.
