Green Party responds to FISH-NL questionnaire

Friday, Oct. 11th, 2019

When it comes to issues impacting Newfoundland and Labrador’s inshore fishery, the Green Party of Canada opposes a seal cull, but is open to the concept of an Atlantic Fisheries Accord.

The Green party made its stand known in response to a September questionnaire prepared by the Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH-NL), and sent to the federal parties in a lead up to the Oct. 21st federal election.

“The Green Party’s stand on the seal hunt doesn’t go over well in Newfoundland and Labrador,” says Ryan Cleary, President of FISH-NL. “But I’ll give the party credit for pledging to include adjacency in the federal Fisheries Act, and being open to the concept of an Atlantic Fisheries Accord that would push the inshore fishery forward.”

FISH-NL supports the concept of an Atlantic Fisheries Accord (similar to the Atlantic Accord for oil and gas) to ensure Newfoundland and Labrador is the principal beneficiary of adjacent fish stocks.

The Green party said it supports putting the principle of adjacency in the federal Fisheries Act, and would continue the work “already underway” to extent Canada’s jurisdiction over the entire continental shelf, although FISH-NL isn’t aware of any such work.

FISH-NL’s questionnaire was also sent to the leaders of the Liberal, Conservative and New Democratic parties, who have yet to respond.

FISH-NL will make all responses public.

Contact: Ryan Cleary 682 4862

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