DON’T TAKE THE BAIT: FFAW CRITICIZES DFO MACKEREL PLAN, CALLS FOR REOPENING OF COMMERICAL FISHERY
May 8, 2025
ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor), representing over 13,000 inshore fish harvesters and plant workers in Newfoundland and Labrador, is urging the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to establish a modest directed commercial mackerel fishery for the 2025 season. The Union has expressed strong concerns that the 440t personal-use bait fishery, announced for Atlantic Canada and Quebec yesterday evening and down from 470t in 2024, fails to meet the needs of Newfoundland and Labrador’s harvesters and coastal communities.
FFAW-Unifor President Dwan Street emphasizes the critical need for a commercial fishery, stating, “The bait mackerel fishery is useless to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Our harvesters have a long history of a fully monitored, high-quality directed fishery that supported livelihoods and provided top-tier product, especially in the fall. A small commercial fishery is not just necessary—it’s essential to sustain our rural communities and ensure the economic viability of our inshore fishery.”
The Atlantic mackerel fishery has been under a commercial moratorium since 2022, despite consistent reports from harvesters of abundant mackerel stocks in Newfoundland and Labrador waters. In 2024 and 2025, FFAW-Unifor proposed that DFO allocate specific quotas to each region and allow the regions to manage their own quota; DFO failed to accept this proposal. The Union argues that the bait fishery, limited to 440 tonnes and split into two 220-tonne portions, does not provide equitable access or sufficient economic benefits for the Newfoundland and Labrador’s fish harvesters.
“Newfoundland and Labrador deserves a fishery that reflects the abundance we see on the water,” Street continues. “Our harvesters are reporting big mackerel and a wide range of sizes around the province, indicating multiple age classes and a healthy stock. A modest commercial fishery would allow us to gather critical data, support our communities, and rebuild trust in DFO’s management. The bait fishery, as it stands, is a missed opportunity and an insult to our industry.”
FFAW-Unifor remains committed to advocating for policies that reflect the realities of the fishery and the needs of Newfoundland and Labrador’s harvesters.