According to the Fish, Food and Allied Workers’ (FFAW) union federal Minister Gail Shea has acted quickly over their plea and announced the details of the 2009 Northern Cod Stewardship Fishery for the province’s northeast coast. It is informed that in 2008, details of this 2J3KL cod fishery were announced by June 16.
FFAW Secretary-Treasurer David Decker explained that it is unacceptable to fishermen already facing a dismal year to have to wait on details of the critical fishery. He further said that this is July month and fish harvesters in 2J3KL who have experienced tremendous difficulty already this year still have no idea what kind of inshore cod fishery they will have.
Decker also told that there is no excuse for these delays and the minister and the department need to stop twiddling their thumbs and immediately and announce the details of this fishery. He noted that Minister Shea chose to release details of the “more politically friendly” recreational fishery long before the commercial fishery adds insult to injury. He told that the government should not delay 2J3KL programme as it has the scientific information about it.
