Some of the criteria lobster harvesters in this province must meet to qualify for aid under the federal lobster assistance program. The FFAW told that in order to qualify for aid, harvesters must have lobster as 50 percent or more of their fishing income, and they had to have lost 25 percent or more in income this year compared to 2008. It is said that the interested harvesters should have a minimum fishing income of $2,500 in 2009 and a maximum income of $50,000.
FFAW Secretary-Treasurer David Decker informed that the reality being faced at this point as a result of the program criteria is that some fish harvesters are literally being punished for fishing. He added that although they have had a significant number of harvesters qualify under this program, the outcome has been far from perfect thus far. It is confirmed that lobster is the mainstay fishery for the majority of small boat harvesters on the south and west coasts of Newfoundland.
Decker said the result is that lobster harvesters, in some cases, have been denied appropriate access to the much-needed assistance. Decker opined that this kind of situation can pit family against family and creates a great deal of difficulty for many in a fishing season where they have already faced more than enough problems.
