Tag Archives: Prince Rupert
Prince Rupert fisherman frustrated by DFO salmon limits, despite millions of fish
Longtime marine fisherman Howard Gray is frustrated with the federal government’s management of the commercial sockeye harvest around Prince Rupert and afraid it will lead to two million dead fish that should have been caught in the ocean this year, he said on Aug. 3. Gray has been commercial fishing on the North Coast for more than 60 years, primarily harvesting salmon and herring. “A multi-million dollar travesty is happening as we speak. There’s going to be in excess of three million fish, sockeyes, going into the system, which is about two million more than there should be,” he said. Gray believes the rules that Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced regarding the commercial sockeye fishery were not in line with the high number of fish returning this year. >click to read< 08:25
B.C. Ferries crew rescue fishermen from burning boat near Prince Rupert
Two men were rescued early Sunday morning by a passing B.C. Ferries vessel after their fishing boat caught fire in Arthur Passage near Prince Rupert. Arnie Nagy, a passenger on the ferry sailing from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, was fast asleep when he was awoken by the vessel suddenly coming to a stop around 5 a.m. “A crew member come up to me and he says ‘come take a look at this … There’s a fire out there,'” said Nagy. In the distance, something was glowing orange. As a lifelong fisherman, Nagy says he could tell it was a small fishing boat. The people on board the fishing boat — two men — launched a flare. >click to read< 18:05
An unexpected outcome of the Great Bear Rainforest agreement
“Prince Rupert produces some of the most iconic seafood in the world,” Coastal First Nations — an alliance of nine nations on B.C.’s central and north coast — started exploring the viability of shellfish aquaculture in the region in 2003, testing various species including oysters and geoducks. In 2013, the nations formed Coastal Shellfish, with Metlakatla First Nation as the majority owner, and started producing scallops. Three-quarters of employees are Indigenous. The decision to focus on scallops was based on sustainability, Uehara said. Scallops are filter feeders, so farming them in the ocean means they clean the water while they grow. (we like that!) >click to read< 10:56
Salmon canning jobs dwindling as consumer tastes change, says Canfisco
B.C. cannery workers are urging Ottawa to save their dwindling jobs and restore the traditional West Coast industry by protecting fish processing jobs. “I’m not a man that begs. But I’m asking you. Keep this community alive.” said Arnie Nagy, cannery union president of the Local 31 Shoreworkers. Nagy joined a conference call with a Fisheries and Oceans Canada standing committee in Ottawa Tuesday to call for fish processing to be protected and kept in local B.C. communities like Prince Rupert where 500 Canfisco jobs were recently lost.,, Rob Morley, Canfisco president, says they are fighting a losing battle. “Consumers don’t want fish in a can. They want it fresh. That is why the Prince Rupert plant closed.” “We’re doing this because the demand for canning is declining. That’s the least efficient operation we have. We sell [fish] fresh because that’s what the consumers want,” said Morley. Read the rest here 22:09
Prince Rupert Reacts to Job Losses at CANFISCO
“A slap in the face” That’s what union executives are calling the cuts to the salmon canning industry in Prince Rupert. The union representing says it will be fighting Canfisco’s decision to end operations at its Oceanside plant. A dark day for workers in the salmon canning industry — as they receive news that they’ll soon be without a job. Executives of the union representing fishermen and allied workers met with its members today to explain details surrounding the imminent closure to salmon canning operations at Canfisco’s oceanside plant. Read the rest here 10:47
Canfisco cannery closing operations in Prince Rupert
In another blow to fisheries on B.C.’s north coast, Canfisco says it will cease canning operations in Prince Rupert. More than 500 jobs could be lost at what was once the world’s largest cannery, with the falling demand for canned salmon blamed for the company’s decision. “We’re moving more to fresh and frozen products,” Rob Morley, vice president of production and corporate development for Canfisco told CBC News. Read the rest here 13:35
