DFO REJECTS FFAW E-LOG PROPOSAL
February 13, 2025
The FFAW-Unifor has expressed deep disappointment with DFO’s decision to reject their ELOG implementation proposal, emphasizing the significant harm this inflexibility will cause to the fishing industry. The union’s proposal, which aimed to address numerous concerns raised by harvesters, was designed to facilitate a smoother transition to electronic logbooks while considering the unique challenges faced by the fishing community.
The rejection of this proposal demonstrates DFO’s lack of consideration for the practical realities faced by harvesters, particularly older fishers who do not own such technology. The Union’s plan would have allowed for a gradual implementation, with 2025 serving as an implementation year and incentivizing early adopters through licensing fee reductions.
By mandating ELOGs without addressing accessibility issues, technology concerns, and cost implications, DFO is placing an undue burden on harvesters. This decision fails to account for the limited cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity in many fishing areas of Newfoundland and Labrador, making it difficult for harvesters to comply with submission requirements.
The FFAW-Unifor’s proposal offered a balanced approach, allowing those prepared to adopt ELOGs to do so while permitting others to continue using paper logs beyond 2025. The rejection of this flexible solution demonstrates a lack of understanding of the diverse needs within the fishing community and may lead to significant challenges in implementation and compliance.
This inflexible stance by DFO not only disregards the union’s efforts to find a workable solution but also threatens to create unnecessary hardships for harvesters, potentially impacting their ability to operate efficiently and comply with reporting requirements. The fishing industry now faces the prospect of a rushed and potentially problematic transition to ELOGs, which could have been avoided had DFO been more receptive to the concerns and proposals put forth by those directly affected by this change.