The Liberal MHA for Burgeo-La Poile believes his constituents are being treated unfairly when it comes to the food fishery.

DFO has extended it to seven days a week for the northeast coast and southern Labrador, but is limiting the fishery to three days a week on the south, southwest and west coasts of the island.

The latest stock assessments show cod in those regions in the critical zone.

MHA Michael King says he understands the reasoning, but says limiting the fishery to three days a week is a safety concern. He’s written the federal fisheries minister to see if DFO might consider allowing fishing seven days a week on the southwest coast, but with lower bag limits.

“We fully acknowledge that the cod stock is obviously in a critical zone in our area. No one is denying that, but we still believe there was a way forward that the minister could have made a decision to have seven days a week in that area as well. Certain limits could be applied,” he said.

“Our weather on the south coast is very unpredictable. We get a lot of wind during the summer, and it’s very hard for people to consistently get out on the weekends to participate in the fishery.”