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Opposition Leader Gerry Reid says the fishing industry in Newfoundland and
Labrador is reaching a crisis situation and many communities and workers
throughout the province are beginning to suffer. Reid, along with MHAs Judy
Foote, Percy Barrett and Fabian Manning, attended a meeting this afternoon
in Clarenville with fish harvesters from Placentia and Fortune Bays who
expressed their concerns about the future of the fishing industry in the
province. "After meeting with union representatives and fish harvesters
from Placentia and Fortune Bays, it is obvious that there is a crisis in the
fishing industry and rural Newfoundland and Labrador," said Mr. Reid. "The
messages I heard today were those of devastation, outmigration and a growing
crisis in the fishing industry. Fish harvesters and communities are feeling
the strain of a fishing season that produced much less value than previous
years and are now facing a dismal fall and winter."
According to union officials, the landed value of fish in this province
is down approximately $200 million from last year. This translates into a
drop of approximately $400-500 million in export value. In the crab industry
alone, several negative factors were experienced that saw the market value
of crab being lowered; a decreasing level of sales as a result of the high
Canadian dollar; and the government imposed Raw Material Sharing (RMS)
system that caused a labour dispute which shut down the industry for several
weeks.
"While there are several factors negatively impacting the fishery, fish
harvesters believe one of the biggest problems they currently face is the
lack of collective bargaining. Currently, fish harvesters believe they are
receiving an unfair price for their product. There is no mechanism in place
that would resolve pricing disputes, except another strike that would shut
down the fishery. Most in the industry agree this is not an option because
of the devastation this would create for families and communities in the
province.
"With all of these issues, it appears government is doing very little to
help. No pricing dispute mechanism is in place and there does not seem to be
any short-term or long-term plan to help the fishery in the province. It is
imperative that government recognize the importance of developing a plan. In
the short-term there needs to be some type of financial assistance that will
help fish harvesters and the industry survive through this fall and winter.
In the long-term there needs to be a strategy developed that will help
rationalize the industry through early retirements and a buy-out of licences.
To date, it does not appear the provincial government is willing to provide
short-term aid, or lobby the federal government for an early retirement or
buy out package for fish harvesters. Until there is action to address these
problems, I fear the industry and workers will continue to struggle for
their survival."
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