2010 should be Year of the Fisheries for the Williams Government

Marshall Dean, MHA for the District of the Straits-White Bay North and Opposition Critic for Fisheries and Aquaculture, says that 2010 is a critical year for the fisheries and government needs to ensure that all guns are aimed at solving the outstanding challenges in this industry before it is too late.

On the eve of the meeting between the parties involved in the MOU intended to strengthen the fishery, Dean says the days of government’s inaction on the fishing industry should be over and he wants to see a bolder focus on an industry that affects many rural regions and its citizens.

“It is time  government turned its full attention to this resource and the people involved and give it their best shot at turning the industry around,” says Dean.  “It is a primary industry that has been badly neglected by a lack of government leadership.  People and regions relying on the fishery simply cannot sustain too many more poor fishing seasons as we have had in recent years. A great deal of government’s energy, time and resources has gone into energy and oil issues and while that may be a good thing, the fishery cannot and should not be overlooked any longer.” 

Dean points out that the poor fishing season is showing its effects on the Northern Peninsula, in particular in his own District. “I have many people who are in desperate need of some emergency employment funding or else they are faced with a grim winter or out-migration.     

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