According to the local news agency Sterling Belliveau, the NDP provincial fisheries critic and MLA for Shelburne, N.S., claims the stacking of lobster licences in the Atlantic lobster industry is a breach of the Preserving the Independence of the Independent Inshore Atlantic Fishing Fleet policy that was put in place by the federal fisheries minister.
Belliveau informed that the recent Department of Fisheries and Oceans regulatory changes allow fishermen to fish more than once licence per boat without both licence holders being present. He added that first the LFA 34 advisory committee was presented to them in late October. The Fishermen are infuriated as these changes were made without any consultation. He opined since the port-elected representatives on the LFA 34 advisory committee were not consulted, the decision to make regulatory changes was made without local input.
Commenting on this DFO said that it has talked opening about loosening licence restrictions. According to Belliveau Nova Scotia fishermen are looking for consultation based on trust and good faith. He told that the provincial minister of fisheries must contact his federal counterpart immediately to ensure proper consultations take place. It is said that advisory committees are set up to advise on issues they know about.
