On behalf of the Inverness South Fishermen’s Association (ISFA) an application was sent to the premier of Nova Scotia and the province’s fisheries and aquaculture industry seeking their assistance as the association tries to secure three per cent of the annual snow crab quota in Area 12. According to the association it has filed reports and requests dating back to the 1980s and the 1990s seeking additional snow crab quota.
It is said that during last year’s season, fishermen staged a harbour blockade to protest the under allotment of quota its membership receives, and also to prevent out of province crab fishermen from leaving port. Mark MacNeill, a consultant lobbyist on behalf of the association, informed that in recent communications with MP Roger Cuzner, he has agreed to submit a petition from the ISFA in Parliament.
It is also said that they have recently written Federal Minister Peter MacKay and Minister Gail Shea of DFO with our request for a 3 percent share of the annual snow crab quota for Area 12 and we have requested a meeting with her to discuss the matter. The association describes the three per cent share of the quota it is seeking as “modest.” It also says it believes that access to the snow crab fishery is an “important industrial infrastructure element for the long-term sustainability of the fisheries industry in Nova Scotia” and is vital to fishermen and their communities.
