SEA-NL congratulates provincial Liberal Party on World Fisheries Day
Monday, Nov. 21st, 2022 – Seaward Enterprises Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (SEA-NL) congratulates the provincial Liberal Party on World Fisheries Day for passing resolutions to have cod declared a heritage fish, a call for search and rescue resources for Labrador, and a review of the rules to become an inshore skipper.
“It’s great to see the wild commercial fisheries on the political agenda of the ruling party,” says Ryan Cleary, Executive Director of SEA-NL. “The wild fisheries are what brought us here, and the wild fisheries will keep us here. That must never be forgotten.”
The provincial Liberal Party passed the three fishery-related resolutions during its weekend convention in Gander. The resolutions urge the Liberal government of Premier Andrew Furey to take action, but they’re not binding on his administration.
The resolution to declare cod as a provincial heritage fish is meant to instil pride, and speed up stock rebuilding efforts as a means to address food security.
The resolution involving search and rescue resources for Labrador specifically asks for 5-Wing Goose Bay to be designated a primary search and rescue (SAR) base. Labrador represents one of the largest regions in Canada without dedicated surface or aeronautical SAR resources.
The final resolution calls for a review of the Processional Fish Harvesters Act (1997), which governs the Professional Fish Harvesters Certification Board, the governing body for fish harvester certification in this province.
The resolution says harvesters are subject to “exceptionally stringent certification criteria,” with new entrants reaching crisis proportions, and calls on government to undertake an immediate public review.
“The wild fisheries deserve priority attention from all sectors, and in passing these three resolutions the Liberal party deserves to be commended — especially on World Fisheries Day,” said Cleary. “Well done.”
