November 19, 1996
(Fisheries and Aquaculture)

Members appointed to Professional Fish Harvesters' Certification Board

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister John Efford announced today the appointment of 15 members to the new Professional Fish Harversters' Certification Board.

The appointments, based on nominations invited from industry stakeholders and government agencies that comprise the board, are as follows.

Representing the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) are its president Earle McCurdy, Fr. Desmond McGrath, Bill Broderick of St. Brendan's, Cyril Dalley of Twillingate, Dwight Spence of Port aux Choix, Percy Brown of Little Harbour East, and Bill Walsh of Cartwright. Tom Best of Petty Harbour is the representative for Fisheries Co-operatives, Bren Condon represents the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Tom Curran and Ken Carew represent the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Les O'Rielly represents the Marine Institute, Bob O'Neill is the representative for Human Resources Development Canada, Dr. Frank Marsh for the Department of Education, and Sharon Taylor for Memorial University.

"I thank these individuals for agreeing to serve as officers on the Certification Board. This is another important step in the process to formally recognize fish harvesting as a profession," Mr. Efford said.

The Professional Fish Harvesters' Certification Board is made possible through legislation (Professional Fish Harvesters Act) that was passed in the House of Assembly in July this year.

Mr. Efford noted that in doing so, Newfoundland and Labrador became the first province in Canada to grant enabling legislation to professionalize fishing, and "demonstrates government's commitment to and strong support for fish harvesters and the fishing industry."

The new Certification Board will hold its first meeting tomorrow (NovEMBER 20), with the election of an executive committee and appointment of an executive director being among the tasks to be completed.

"Professionalization is intended to protect the rights of fish harvesters who depend on the sea for their livelihood and provide for the setting of occupational standards developed by fish harvesters themselves to govern their occupation in a professional manner," Mr. Efford said.

The minister said that the Certification Board should be functional by January 1, 1997 - "right on target" - after which date all fish harvesters will be registered with the board. Certification by a provincial board will also mean that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) will no longer register fish harvesters as full-time or part-time participants, or charge fees related to registration. Instead, fish harvesters will be designated by the new Certification Board in one of three levels of professionalization - Apprentice (new entrants), Level I, and Level II.

In addition to harvesters reviewed by DFO for "core" status, DFO is contacting all other full-time harvesters, on behalf of the new certification board, to review their fishing activity, historical attachment and income levels. Information collected will be forwarded to the Certification Board for a decision on each harvester's status as either Level I or Level II.

Those who hold part-time fishing registrations, or others who may be new entrants to the fishery, will be required in early '97 to contact the new board to determine their status under professionalization.

While DFO will continue to register fishing vessels and issue specific commercial fishing licences, fish harvesters must be certified by the new Certification Board before being considered eligible to receive a commercial fishing licence from DFO.

Mr. Efford noted that the Province's professionalization legislation also provides for appeal panels, and a disciplinary board.

He also noted that the Professional Fish Harvester Certification Board will do more than operate and maintain a fish harvester registration system.

The board, operating at arms-length from Government, has a mandate to promote the interests of fish harvesters as a professional group; develop, evaluate and recommend courses under the professionalization program; issue certificates of accreditation to qualifying fish harvesters; develop, maintain and monitor compliance of a Code of Ethics for harvesters; apply sanctions against fish harvesters who violate the Code of Ethics; provide an advisory role to the federal and provincial governments in the formation of fisheries policies; and provide an independent appeals procedure for fish harvesters for certification purposes.

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