The FFAW is raising concerns after they say the Department of Fisheries and Oceans rejected their proposal for the implementation of electronic logbooks.

President Dwan Street says harvesters currently use paper logbooks, which record important information that DFO uses.

Street says DFO wants to make using an app for the logbooks mandatory.

She says this would come with a cost of $60 per species per year, whereas the current paper system is provided for free.

Outside of cost, Street outlines several issues with the proposed new system.She says not all of their members have smartphones or iPads, and would be comfortable using the technology, and there are cell phone and WIFI connectivity issues in many areas of the province.

The FFAW proposed 2025 as a trial implementation year in which some harvesters would test out the technology and provide feedback. They also proposed flexibility by still using paper logs, given that some of their members may be nearing retirement age and do not want the system forced upon them.

That was rejected by DFO, and Street says they are asking all members to write their MPs to voice their concerns.