Representatives from all political parties in Canada''s Newfoundland and Labrador are standing united with inshore harvesters, fish plant workers and business owners to seek better federal quota allocations for northern shrimp.
At a recent Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) rally in Gander, all parties gathered together to protest against the Federal Government’s “Last In, First Out” (LIFO) policy for northern shrimp quota allocation, which was imposed in response to declining stock numbers.
They believe that this policy, which is not used for any other fishery in Atlantic Canada, forces small boat harvesters to accept the majority of quota cuts because they entered this fishery after the offshore fleet.
The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, said: “Both the small boat inshore fleet and the offshore fleet make vital contributions to the provincial economy, and that reality must be reflected in federal decisions about the amount of quota given to each.”
There are eight shrimp fishing areas off the northeast coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, numbered zero to seven. The inshore small boat fleet can only fish areas six and seven, while the offshore can access all areas. Area seven will be closed after this year, making fair sharing of the resource even more important.
In April of last year, an all-party committee was formed to emphasise the need for northern shrimp quota allocations that not only protect the resource but also to act in the interest of both fleets that harvest it.
In the coming weeks, the Federal Government will seek positions from industry stakeholders on the issue which will form the basis for a decision on the quotas.
