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Yvonne Jones, Opposition Labrador Affairs Critic and MHA for the District of
Cartwright - L’Anse au Clair, says cuts to crab quotas announced by the
Federal Minister this week will have detrimental effects on the
sustainability of the economy in southern Labrador. "The impact of these
cuts will be felt most by crab fishers in the 2J region where a 20% cut will
be made this year," said Jones. "Fishermen in this region have already faced
cuts in the fishery in this area over the past ten years of almost 70%. This
recent announcement will cause the collapse of the fishery in my district,
likely causing the loss of half the current workforce.
"The federal government has mismanaged crab stocks in the 2J region and
not conducted adequate research, causing this reduction in the amount of
crab. Fishers, plant workers and community leaders have told the government
of the problems over the past ten years, yet they continue to destroy their
livelihood. This is just another blow on top of past cuts in crab quotas
that is simply not acceptable to the people of southern Labrador.
"It is time for both levels of government to accept responsibility for
this collapse of the crab industry and be held accountable to the people.
The provincial Minister must address the issue with Minister Regan in Ottawa
and find a solution for the affected workers. In addition to finally putting
forth a reasonable management program, a compensation package and early
retirement program must be considered to offset the impact of the
announcement this week."
Jones says the continued erosion of rural Newfoundland and Labrador must
be addressed by both levels of government. "Between the mismanagement of the
fishery by the federal government and the inability of the Williams
government to address rural issues, the depopulation of rural areas will
soon be irreversible. I am calling on both levels of government to step up
to the plate and deal with the issues now, not push them off until rural
Newfoundland and Labrador becomes a fading memory from the past." |