February 17, 2025
FFAW-Unifor is urging Members of Parliament to intervene following the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ (DFO) rejection of their proposed electronic logbook (ELOG) implementation plan. The union’s proposal aimed to address critical concerns raised by harvesters and facilitate a smoother transition to ELOGs.
FFAW-Unifor President Dwan Street expressed strong disapproval of DFO’s decision, stating, “DFO’s inflexibility in mandating ELOGs without addressing accessibility issues, technology concerns, and cost implications places an undue burden on our harvesters. We call on our MPs to step in and halt this misguided implementation that threatens the livelihoods of our fishing communities”.
The union’s proposal offered a balanced approach, allowing for gradual implementation and incentivizing early adopters. It also considered the unique challenges faced by the fishing community, including limited cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity in many fishing areas of Newfoundland and Labrador.
President Street added, “By rejecting our proposal, DFO has demonstrated a lack of understanding of the diverse needs within our fishing community. We need our elected representatives to intervene and ensure that the transition to ELOGs is done in a way that doesn’t jeopardize the operations of our harvesters”.
FFAW-Unifor is calling for immediate action to prevent the rushed and potentially problematic transition to ELOGs, which could have significant impacts on the fishing industry’s ability to operate efficiently and comply with reporting requirements.
For media inquiries, please contact Nick Travis at [email protected] or 709-576-7276.
