FISH-NL calls on provincial parties to reveal stand on major fishery issues before provincial election

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, May 3rd, 2019

The Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH-NL) is calling on the four political parties in the upcoming provincial election to spell out where they stand on eight major inshore fishery issues:

Does your party support opening the market to outside fish buyers?
Does your party support this province becoming the principle beneficiary of adjacent fish stocks?
Does your party support the inclusion of the adjacency principle in the federal Fisheries Act?
Does your party support lifting the moratorium on fish processing licences?
What is your party’s plan to address the massive harp seal population?
Does your party support on-land or at-sea aquaculture?
What is your party’s stand on offshore seismic activity?
What is your party’s stand on raw material sharing?

“The inshore fishery is critical to the province’s future, and the responses from each of the parties will give harvesters, their families, and rural communities where they live a clear idea of where each of the parties stand,” says Ryan Cleary, President of FISH-NL. “The answers to these questions will help them make the most informed decision on where to mark their X.”

FISH-NL’s questions were forwarded today to each of the four party leaders, including Liberal Leader Dwight Ball, Progressive Conservative Leader Ches Crosbie, NDP Leader Alison Coffin, and NL Alliance head Graydon Pelley.

The provincial election is scheduled for May 16th, and FISH-NL requested responses from each of the four political camps by Monday, May 13h.

All responses will be made public.

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Contact: Ryan Cleary 682 4862