Joy Thorkelson, spokesperson of United Fishermen and Allied Worker’s Union, said that the commercial fishermen are being “bankrupt out of the industry”. While Skeena – Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen says it is time for federal fisheries minister Gail Shea to step up to the plate and provide some support.
According to him Minister Shea should come to the region with a cheque book and a plan to compensate the commercial fishermen of the region. He had discussion with the minister and told her that there should be a similar compensation package to what was offered to the east coast and that she needs to be thinking in that ballpark of compensation.
It is fact that managing the fishery into the future is important, but so is finding a way to make this season survivable for the commercial fleet. Cullen has been calling on compensation or assistance following a dismal fishing season, which Thorkelson said saw gillnetters catch an average of 414 fish and make $3,000, for months but says he now has the support of an unexpected group.
Cullen said that he met with some environmental groups and they said they were also looking to see some sort of compensation package for the commercial fishing fleet on the west coast.
