FFAW to meet with federal fishery minister, DFO on Monday morning

It might have taken a show of numbers, but representatives of Newfoundland and Labrador fish harvesters are scheduled to meet with the federal fisheries minister and Department of Fisheries and Oceans officials on Monday morning.

Hundreds of fish harvesters gathered outside of the St. John's Convention Centre on Sunday evening as Liberal Leader Mark Carney made his first campaign stop. The group was protesting recent cuts to the snow crab catch in some regions.

FFAW president Dwan Street, speaking outside the convention centre, said after days of trying to get a meeting with Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson, she was finally able to meet with her about DFO cutting snow crab quotas in areas like 3K.

"Unfortunately, while it was a step, it wasn't the step that we wanted," Street told CBC News.

The only commitment she got from Thompson was a meeting on Monday morning with DFO senior management, she added.

"I know harvesters are feeling a little bit left behind. Disrespected. We don't feel like we should have had to be here this evening," said Street.

"We have folks behind me who travelled some six, seven hours to be here to fight for their livelihoods. It didn't have to be this way."

Earlier on Sunday the FFAW held a protest outside of Thomson's campaign headquarters.

Richard Gillett was one of the many harvesters who gathered outside the convention centre and was one of the handful who attended the Sunday meeting with Thompson.

He called the meeting a "short conversation" about what the harvesters call discrepancies in the DFO's reports, and he what he calls the significant threat the new snow crab quotas pose to their livelihoods.

"Because the numbers that they're presenting to us is bankruptcy numbers," said Gillett.

Gillett was also critical Thompson put off meeting with harvesters for days, but was suddenly available when they showed up in St. John's.

"It kind of puts a pit in my stomach, to be honest with you," said Gillett.

He said it always seems to take a demonstration or for harvesters to occupy a building to get a response from the government, "and it should never be that way."

He added Carney has been meeting with people across the country and he wants to know why the man running to be Prime Minister didn't come out to meet with the harvesters.

In a post on social media, FFAW in-shore president Jason Sullivan said if the Monday meeting is delayed, he encouraged harvesters to travel to Gander where Carney is scheduled to hold a campaign stop.

N.L. fishery minister

Street said initially, she welcomed Carney appointing Thomson, a Liberal MP from Newfoundland and Labrador, as the new fisheries minister and had high hopes Thompson would meet with harvesters, especially considering past struggles with the federal government.

"I don't think it's about party colours or party lines right now. It's about a politician who will listen to harvesters and support them. And take their concerns very, very seriously on what decisions like this mean for their enterprises, their communities and their survival," said Street.

Street also said the lines of communication with the government should be more open.

Street said it's important to let Carney know the fishery is a major industry.

"This is not some small industry that he can just let die or one that if you make a poor decision, we're just going to go away," said Street.

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