Fishery minister’s approach to advocating for the fishery wrong: Opposition

Marshall Dean, MHA for the District of The Straits-White Bay North and Opposition Fisheries Critic, says in simply writing a letter, the provincial government did not do an effective job in advancing our position to the federal minister in the recent shrimp quota decision.

Dean questioned the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture today in the House of Assembly on what level of dialogue he held with the federal minister of fisheries prior to the allocation of this year’s Northern shrimp quota, which was announced earlier this week. The plan saw a 28 per cent reduction in quota allocations in Area Six, affecting mainly the northeast part of the province.  

“The minister knew these quota decisions were coming and with it some level of cuts that would impact our fishing industry, and yet the best effort he came up with is to issue a letter to the minister,” says Dean.  “The minister ought to know that a face-to-face meeting or even a dialogue on the phone would constitute a stronger and more effective pitch than a letter outlining our position. The long-term impact of the system of last in, first out could be disastrous if this is the trend the federal government decides to take.”

Dean also expressed concern about the removal of two special allocation holders from the quota, particularly that of The North of Fifty Thirty Association (NOFTA) which encompasses communities from River of Ponds to Englee. “There are some 350 fishing enterprises that will see a reduction in income due to this cut, as well as some $1.2 million removed from the economy of our rural region. When you add this to the instability of other areas of the fishery like lobster, crab and even the cod, this cut is going to have a significant impact all along our coast.“

The Opposition member also challenged the minister on what his contingency plans were for the communities and the people affected by this quota reduction. “Clearly from his answer, there is no thought or strategic plan to address any fall-out from this quota hit.   This is the same minister who failed to take a lead role in helping to resolve the crab dispute by not providing a stabilizing investment.

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