|
Gerry Reid, Opposition Fisheries Critic and MHA for the District of
Twillingate-Fogo, says he is shocked and dismayed that Fisheries Minister
Trevor Taylor has introduced production quotas in the crab industry,
something that will give the big fish processors total control of the crab
fishery in this province. "Today’s announcement is absolutely
unbelievable," said Mr. Reid. "This minister is the same person who stated
in 2002 that there was a conspiracy amongst processors to limit the price of
crab. As a matter of fact, Premier Williams and Minister Taylor called in
the Competition Bureau of Canada to investigate what they called a cartel, a
group of fish processors who they believed were colluding to lower the price
for crab paid to fishermen. Now they are moving forward with a pilot project
that will legalize or legitimize a cartel in the crab industry. I cannot
understand the logic in Minister Taylor’s decision.
"These production quotas will result in the elimination of competition
among processors. This will undoubtably lead to lower prices for crab
fishermen. Big business will certainly be the benefactors of this program,
while fishermen are once again the people who will suffer from the decisions
of this government. The Danny Williams administration is a big business
government. They did nothing to prevent FPI from laying off their workers
and are now once again willing to sellout fishermen to appease the big
processors in this province. It is unacceptable to give processors total
control of the crab industry.
"I am very disappointed that Minister Taylor has refused to stand up for
the fishermen of this province. Today’s decision will do nothing to improve
the crab industry and do plenty to harm the people who make their living
from the sea."
|