Another 'no' to changes in food fishery is 'a slap in the face' to N.L., says advocate

OK, let's back things up a bit. Residents of our neighbouring Atlantic provinces — Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick — are permitted to catch cod seven days a week during much of the summer, while Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have been relegated to three-days per week — Saturday to Monday — in July and August, along with a weeklong fall fishery.

Maritimers can take 15 groundfish per person, per day, and no more than five can be cod. Meanwhile, people here are allowed a total of five apiece, and no more than 15 fish to a boat — even if there are half a dozen people onboard.

But that difference between what people in the Maritimes can fish, and what people here can fish, is a real sticking point for some Newfoundlanders.

For the past 10 years — and particularly this past year — the Food Fishery Fighters, headed by Barry Fordham, have led a push to ask, convince or beg DFO to permit Newfoundlanders the same opportunities as our Atlantic neighbours.

But the answer, contained in the latest decision by federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson, was essentially a flat no.

Once again, the food fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador is running for a total of 39 days, Saturday to Monday, from the end of June to the end of September. And once again, people are limited to five per day, with a maximum of 15 per boat.

So Fordham was the first person I thought of when I read DFO's news release. I know first-hand the effort he's put into what he says is a fight for equality, so I wanted to know what, exactly, he's been asking for.

"Open the season Canada Day to Thanksgiving Day, seven days a week, increasing the quota from five to 10 fish per person," he said.

He also wants DFO to do away with the boat limit, "so technically, we can catch 25 fish per boat if there's five people in it. This promotes safety about the weather, it gives fishers more opportunity to get their fish for food supply for the year, plus it addresses the food insecurity crisis in N.L."

And what does Fordham think of DFO's response to his efforts?

"Purely political. It was a slap in the face to everyone in Newfoundland and Labrador. The moratorium ended last year and even foreign countries have a quota. Most of us figured this would be the year for change, but not so," he said.

Fordham sent messages to federal politicians on both sides of the fence, but says he was disappointed with the lack of response.

But as part of Wednesday's news release, DFO did announce a new voluntary pilot program for certified boat tour operators, introducing a tagging system allowing passengers to keep two fish each per day, seven days a week.

For people like Fordham, the move rubs salt in a fresh wound.

People from Ontario, Quebec, New York, Paris and anywhere else in the whole world can fish seven days a week in Newfoundland and Labrador, while we wave from our wharves and shores.

Boat tour operators are great for tourists and tourism in general. I've experienced a few of those wonderful ocean rides over the years and I thoroughly enjoyed them. I don't even mind tourists being allowed to hook and keep a fish.

But seven days a week all summer, while Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are relegated to weekends to fill their freezers, is a foul hook people like Fordham hope to avoid.

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