FFAW Condemns DFO’s E-Log Policy and Phone Seizure Overreach; Calls for Minister Intervention

ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor) is demanding immediate action from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to address the ongoing issues with its mandatory electronic logbook (e-log) policy and the recent invasive seizure of a harvester’s cellphone, which continues to cause increasingly significant distress and disruption for Newfoundland and Labrador’s fish harvesters. FFAW-Unifor is calling for a return to a voluntary implementation, allowing the continued use of paper logs, and an end to overreaching enforcement practices.

“DFO’s electronic logbook policy is a poorly executed overreach that ignores the realities of our industry. Harvesters have been vocal about these issues from the start, and our prior communications to DFO made it clear that a forced transition would lead to chaos. The department’s failure to listen has left fish harvesters struggling with unreliable systems and no support,” says FFAW-Unifor President Street.

Compounding these issues, a recent incident over the weekend involving FFAW Inshore Council Vice President Jason Sullivan has heightened concerns about DFO’s invasive compliance tactics. Sullivan says DFO violated his privacy when fisheries officers seized his cellphone as part of an investigation into an alleged fishing violation. “DFO violated my privacy when my cellphone was seized. My cellphone isn’t a tool I use for fishing, and DFO wouldn’t clarify why they took it or when it might be returned. I even offered to provide my e-log account, but they proceeded with this gross overstep,” Sullivan says.

Moreover, the mandatory e-log system continues to plague harvesters with technical failures. “It’s ridiculous that fish harvesters are left stranded, unable to reach DFO or the e-log providers for assistance,” Street added. “This is causing massive headaches across the industry, disrupting livelihoods and adding unnecessary stress.”

FFAW-Unifor also questions the policy’s fairness, particularly for license holders who do not actively fish. “Are these harvesters being forced to purchase an app just to report nothing?” Street asks. “This is a clear example of a one-size-fits-all approach that fails to account for the diverse realities of our fishery.”

The Union is asking Minister Joanne Thompson to immediately reinstate a voluntary transition period, allowing harvesters to use paper logs while technical issues are resolved. Additionally, the Union is calling for an end to invasive enforcement practices, such as unwarranted cellphone seizures, and for improved support systems and meaningful consultation with fish harvesters to develop a policy that works for the industry.

“We’ve been raising these concerns for months, and DFO’s inaction, coupled with their invasive actions like a personal cell phone seizure, is unacceptable. It’s time for the department to listen to harvesters and fix this mess before it causes further harm to our fishery,” concludes Street.