Caplin harvesters take over DFO office in Twillingate

Upwards of 30 inshore harvesters took over the Fisheries and Oceans office in Twillingate this morning to protest the department’s failure to open the caplin fishery off Newfoundland’s northeast coast in fishing zone 3K. “We’ve taken over the building in a peaceful protest, but we’re not budging,” said Richard Gillett, a well-known Twillingate fisherman and one of the protesters.

The fixed-gear caplin fishery from Dog Bay Point to North Head opened Wednesday at 6 a.m., but was postponed indefinitely later in the day after harvesters voted to do so during an FFAW-Unifor-organized conference call.

“We don’t like how the vote was conducted because most fishermen weren’t consulted,” said Gillett.

Another conference call was scheduled for today to discuss opening the caplin fishery — a call that was to include more caplin harvesters — but the FFAW-Unifor cancelled the call without notice.

Contact: Ryan Cleary 682 4862
Richard Gillett: 884-7355