News Releases
Government Home Search Sitemap Contact Us  


April 19, 1996
(Fisheries and Aquaculture)


Province moves toward professional certification of fish harvesters

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has taken a major step towards professionalizing the harvesting sector of the fishery.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister John Efford announced at a news conference today that legislation is being drafted to provide for the establishment of a Fish Harvesters Certification Board. He expects the legislation to be passed in the House of Assembly by the end of this year.

Mr. Efford, noting that Newfoundland and Labrador is the first province in Canada to make this move, said this is in response to requests by fish harvesters themselves to have a mechanism to certify "skilled, professional harvesters who have a genuine attachment to and dependence on the fishery."

"This is an important step towards having their occupation formally recognized and certified as a profession," the minister said.

"Professionalization of fish harvesters is industry-driven, and has the full support of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador," he said. Province-wide consultations, funded by the federal government and held in December 1994 indicated strong broad-based support for professionalization. In fact, the more than 5,000 fish harvesters who attended 250 meetings held by the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union strongly endorsed the new certification program.

Mr. Efford commended the FFAW for promoting and encouraging the concept of professionalization. He also acknowledged the resources and commitment made by the federal government, and by local officials of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in particular, in support of professionalization. He noted that a government-industry working group comprised of fish harvesters, union representatives and provincial and federal officials has been active for the past two years in support of the professionalization concept.

FFAW president Earle McCurdy, who participated in the news conference, said the professionalization program has been planned and developed by fish harvesters over many years, with widespread public consultation.

"The intent of professionalization is to protect the rights of fish harvesters who derive their living from the sea. It provides a mechanism for fish harvesters to upgrade and advance, and it recognizes the significant contribution of crew members to the fishing industry," Mr. McCurdy said.

"Essentially, professionalization provides occupational standards developed by fish harvesters to govern their own occupation in a professional manner," the union leader explained.

The Fish Harvesters Certification Board, once in place, will operate at arms-length from government, and be independent from educational institutions and other agencies. It will have authority to define standards for professionalization and issue certificates of accreditation. The board will be governed by a council comprised of representatives of various industry stakeholders. An Appeals Committee will also be established, as will a Code of Ethics.

Fish harvesters now active in the fishery will be "grandfathered" in as professionals in the new system at different levels, according to their dependence on and attachment to the industry. New fish harvesters will enter the profession as apprentices, and become eligible for accreditation at higher levels once specified sea time and training requirements have been met.

Once the professionalization system is in place, personal registrations now issued by the federal government to full-time and part-time fish harvesters will be discontinued. The full and part-time categories will be replaced by the New Entrant, Level I and Level II designations under the professionalization program, with certificates of accreditation issued by the Fish Harvesters Certification Board.

The federal government would continue to issue licences to fish harvesters for vessels and species.

Mr. Efford noted that while the federal government holds sole jurisdiction related to licensing within the harvesting sector, the province can provide through legislation for the establishment of advisory and consultative mechanisms such as apprenticeship advisory boards, trade advisory committees and self-governing occupations. It can also provide for setting standards relative to most professions, and can delegate powers to professional organizations to regulate their own members and to set out entrance requirements for participation. Training is an area within provincial jurisdiction, and accreditation of educational courses that would be prerequisites for a professionalization program is a provincial responsibility.

Contact: Josephine Cheeseman, Director of Public Relations, (709) 729-3733.

1996 04 19 1:25 p.m.

SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement