IMPORTANT - DFO MEETINGS ON WEAK ROPE IMPLEMENTATION

Home » IMPORTANT – DFO MEETINGS ON WEAK ROPE IMPLEMENTATION

November 29, 2021

This is an urgent reminder for ALL FISH HARVESTERS to participate in the following virtual meetings taking place this week.

DFO intends to implement weak gear policies in the Newfoundland and Labrador region in 2023. These measures are being implemented with the goal of preventing right whale entanglements. While these entanglements may be a concern for fisheries in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, there has never been a right whale entanglement in the Newfoundland and Labrador fishery.

Most concerning, DFO has provided no evidence that this gear is safe or effective for the fishery in this province.

There is no evidence that weak rope can serve as effective fishing equipment and will not break apart under the normal strain of a catch combined with the tide, potentially adding more environmental waste through ‘ghost gear’.

HARVESTERS MUST URGE DFO TO ABANDON IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS POLICY IN NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR.

MEETING TIMES:

November 29, 630 p.m. to 830 p.m. – Groundfish Fixed Gear

November 30, 630 p.m. to 830 p.m. – Shellfish

December 1, 630 p.m. to 830 p.m. – Pelagics Fixed Gear

These meetings can be accessed via Zoom OR by telephone. Zoom links are provided below for each meeting:

Groundfish Fixed Gear Meeting Zoom Details:

Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/96501347217?pwd=cEh1emw0dTF1VEpYM29uUUp1QXdGUT09

Or Dial 1-855 703 8985 Canada Toll-free

Meeting ID: 965 0134 7217
Passcode: 003661

Snowcrab Meeting Zoom Details:

Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/91802034452?pwd=N1NSRUlHUG5VcWl0MlV4dVdWdXNNUT09