Fisheries and Land Resources
April 21, 2017

Minister Crocker Requests Compensation for Fish Harvesters and Plant Workers Impacted by Severe Ice Conditions

The Honourable Steve Crocker, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources, has written to the Federal Government to request compensation to harvesters and plant workers impacted by the severe ice conditions this spring.

Snow crab and lobster fisheries would normally be starting or about to start this time of year but ice conditions along the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador have delayed the opening of these major inshore fisheries. Ice conditions could cause delays until at least mid-May which means many inshore harvesters and plant workers will be impacted as Employment Insurance (EI) benefits will have been exhausted by that time.

Compensation has been provided in the past and similar compensation for individuals will provide a reliable source of income for the foreseeable future.

A copy of the letter sent to federal Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Labour, the Honourable Patricia Hajdu can be found online at www.fishaq.gov.nl.ca/pdf/letter.pdf

Quote
“I have asked the federal Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Labour, the Honourable Patricia Hajdu, to provide assistance to impacted individuals similar to past compensation. The Federal Government has shown its cooperation with respect to other areas of the fishery, most recently this week when they announced they would start conducting full scientific stock assessments on Northern cod for the next five years. Continuing EI benefits for those impacted will help them provide an income until the fishery is able to start.”
Honourable Steve Crocker
Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources

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Learn more
Letter from Minister Steve Crocker to Minister Patricia Hajdu

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Media contact:

Craig Renouf
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-637-2284, 632-8167
craigrenouf@gov.nl.ca

2017 04 21                              2:35 p.m.