Fisheries and Aquaculture
May 21, 2014

Protecting the Economic Well-Being of Families and Communities

Minister Calls for Action from Federal Government for Those Impacted by Delayed Fisheries

The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, again today called on the Federal Government to provide income assistance to those affected by ice conditions that have delayed fishing activity.

“Since April, this government has repeatedly advised the Federal Government of severe ice conditions, especially along the coast of the Northern Peninsula and Labrador, which has delayed fishing activity that is vital to the incomes of many families and communities. Federal support has been provided in previous years when similar circumstances emerged, and so I call on representatives from the Federal Government to answer the Provincial Government’s repeated requests for intervention, and initiate a program that will ensure impacted people will have income until fishing activity can begin.”
- The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture

Current estimates project that fisheries in specific areas may be delayed by one month, and possibly longer. The Provincial Government has been in regular contact with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Employment and Social Development Canada for several weeks regarding the need to follow past practice, which has been to make financial support available to those who need it when severe ice conditions impact the industry.

QUICK FACTS

• Minister Keith Hutchings is calling on the Federal Government to provide financial support to those impacted by fishery delays due to ice conditions.
• In 1991 and 2007, the Federal Government made an Ice Compensation Package available to support people involved in the fishery when ice conditions delayed the start of the season.
• The decision to implement funding support falls exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government, and both the Provincial Government and industry representatives are awaiting a response to requests to make assistance available.
• The primary species harvested at this time of year is snow crab and lobster. The landed value of all snow crab caught by provincial harvesters in 2013 was $209 million, and the landed value of all lobster caught by provincial harvesters was $17 million.

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Media contacts: Jason Card Director of Communications Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture 709-729-3733, 699-0470 jasoncard@gov.nl.ca

2014 05 21         1:50 p.m.