Redfish allocations take community-driven fishery out of harvesters' hands, FFAW says

The redfish fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence could open as early as June 15, but the Fish, Food and Allied Workers union says allocations for inshore harvesters are nowhere near where they should be. (Nicolas Steinbach/CBC)

The Fish, Food and Allied Workers union is angry over this year's redfish allocations for inshore harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador, saying the federal government is prioritizing corporations over fishermen struggling to survive.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is reopening the redfish fishery for the first time since 1997 and announced the total allowable catch is 60,000 tonnes for 2024-25. The fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence could open as early as June 15.

But only 15 per cent of that quota has been allocated to coastal and inshore vessels less than 65 feet in length. Nearly 60 per cent of the quota went to offshore fleets.

"It really leaves us in a difficult position. And, you know, we'll have to work with what we have and try to make this better," FFAW secretary-treasurer Jason Spingle told CBC News in a recent interview.

"People have been in survival mode. They've been borrowing against their savings, for those that have savings. How many people will be left after this year is going to be a difficult question, because it doesn't look like everyone will survive under the current circumstances."

Spingle said the FFAW had asked for a 40 and 50 per cent share for inshore harvesters, and had also hoped to see more of an increase for Indigenous harvesters than what was given.

FFAW-Unifor secretary-treasurer Jason Spingle said the union had asked for a 40 and 50 per cent share of the redfish quota. (Alex Kennedy/CBC)

FFAW president Greg Pretty didn't hold back in a news release issued Saturday, saying the federal government made a "cowardly move" — the allocations were shared in a news release issued at 7:30 p.m. NT Friday evening.

Pretty also compared Newfoundland MPs Gudie Hutchings and Seamus O'Regan to puppets on a string, saying the province lacks a voice that strongly supports the fishing industry in Ottawa. He said they need to either "step up, or step away."

"The minister may try to tell you that there was some adjustment made, but it wasn't near enough," Spingle said.

"That leaves a whole fleet of boats and many communities and plant workers right now, you know, in question of a future."

Spingle said the move also takes away from what the redfish fishery was before it closed — a community-driven fishery that provided for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

"Pretty much all that fish was brought ashore and processed in communities like Burgeo and Gaultois," he said.

"It was a community-based fishery, it was never an offshore fishery."

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