Tag Archives: Food and Allied Workers Union
‘The people’s fish’: Atlantic mackerel stocks have collapsed – can a moratorium bring them back?
Canada’s Atlantic mackerel population is a shadow of what it once was, and its decline threatens the well-being of the people who depend on it. Mackerel supports one of Atlantic Canada’s top recreational fisheries, and one of its oldest commercial fisheries. The fish is also used for bait, and it has an important place in Indigenous cultures. The same migratory stock supports recreational and commercial fisheries in the U.S. Last March, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans closed Canada’s commercial and bait mackerel fisheries for one year and placed daily personal limits on the recreational fishery, to give the population time to rebound. But the U.S. fishery remains open, albeit with a reduced quota. Next week, federal Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray will decide whether to reopen the Canadian fishery. The DFO’s latest studies have found no sign of recovery in the mackerel stock. Photos, >click to read< 13:09
Fish harvesters are “ready to revolt.” Ryan Cleary to help form breakaway fish union
A former NDP MP says forming a new union for fishermen will be a big challenge, but Ryan Cleary told reporters on Monday that he thinks it is possible. Cleary held a news conference in Petty Harbour to talk about what he called a “David versus Goliath challenge.” Harvesters have been pleading with him to start a union that represents fishermen only, Cleary said. They are currently part of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW), which also represents plant workers. Cleary called that a “conflict of interest,” and said it’s hard for the union to be critical of government policies when it received “untold millions” from the federal government. He said harvesters are “ready to revolt.” Read the story here ‘Fish harvesters have lost confidence in the FFAW’ – Read this article here ‘The FFAW is a conflict of interest wrapped in a mystery inside a huge puzzle with pieces missing, the missing pieces being fish’ Read this article here 07:50
Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union News Release: Improvements to Northern Cod Fishery are a Step in the Right Direction
St. Johns – The one-year management approach for the 2016 2J3KL Stewardship Cod fishery signals a new chapter in rebuilding the cod fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador. The improvements in the approach for the 2016 fishery, announced by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) last week, includes a lengthened season with opportunities to harvest more cod. According to data from DFO, the Northern cod spawning stock biomass has increased from 20,000 tonnes in 1997 to 300,000 tonnes today. “Rebuilding the cod fishery will bring with it many challenges and opportunities,” said Keith Sullivan, President of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union. “This new approach will provide harvesters with an increased opportunity to harvest and will give the processing sector opportunities to market more sustainable, high quality cod.” Read the press release here 11:34
Not clear how TPP will affect fishery, says FFAW’s Keith Sullivan
The president of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union says it’s not yet clear how the 
deal reached this week will affect Newfoundland and Labrador’s fishing industry. On Monday, a 12-nation tariff-cutting trade deal was reached that will see the participating countries enjoy a significant drop in tariffs almost across the board. Conservative Leader Stephen Harper says the deal with “without any doubt” in Canada’s best interests. But FFAW president Keith Sullivan said he’s still not sure how significantly the agreement will affect fish harvesters in this province. Read the rest here 09:38
South coast harvesters blast DFO and FFAW; call conservation ‘a joke’ – Cod fishery extended into spawning season … again
Inshore fish harvesters on the south coast of Newfoundland are accusing the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) of using the guise of science to allow large company-owned trawlers to catch cod during a time that is traditionally closed for cod spawning. The cod fishery in area 3Ps was set to close for spawning on March 1. But it was decided, the same as last year, the fishery would remain open until the end of March to help gather more information. Read the rest here 07:55
McCurdy – Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union exploring shipping out unprocessed cod to the US
“It was a disaster last year, and we can’t afford to repeat that in 2014,” he told reporters. “We’re going to need cod as part of the economics of our industry, because a warming trend is improving the environment for groundfish. Unfortunately, the flipside of that is it’s less hospitable for shellfish.” Read more@thetelegram 08:06
FFAW Press Statement Jan. 30, 2014 – Cod Pilot Projects here
Newfoundland and Labrador crab tie-up ends – Processors agree to pay an additional 17 cents a pound
The Canadian Press Saturday, April 20, 2013 – 16:02 ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – A fisheries union and seafood processors in Newfoundland and Labrador finalized a deal Saturday that ends the tie-up in the province’s crab fishery. continued
