Inshore Fishery Coalition Calls on DFO to Consult on New Redfish Fishery
October 14, 2021
The Unit 1 Redfish Fishery is expected to be commercial in the next 2 years and will be an important economic generator for the west coast of NL for the next several decades – but ONLY if the inshore receives access.
FFAW is working to keep the benefits of the Redfish Fishery in adjacent coastal NL communities. Here is what you need to know about DFO’s current consultation process:
- The process consists of a short questionnaire introduced to a small group of stakeholders on Sept 16th with an early Nov deadline
- FFAW has established a coalition of maritime fishery organizations, including fish harvesters, plant workers, and Indigenous groups and processors, all supporting the vision to maximize the value of the adjacent redfish fishery for those who live closest to the resource
- We have been actively meeting with provincial government to encourage an All-Party Provincial Committee be formed while requesting that DFO halt the current process and develop a new one with more transparency and a federal Minister in appointment
- We will be engaging all adjacent municipalities and encourage them to express their support for fair and transparent consultation process that is more inclusive and not fast-tracked