Inshore Fishery Update – April 3, 2020

The Inshore Council held a conference call today to discuss the COVID-19 situation and its impact on the fishery.

The Council passed the following resolution regarding the inshore fishery:

Be it resolved that FFAW’s Inshore Council recommend all inshore fisheries in Newfoundland and Labrador be postponed until at least May 1 and until steps can be taken to protect the health, safety and security of inshore harvesters and plant workers in light of the COVID-19 crisis. This date will be reviewed two weeks in advance of May 1.

Be it further resolved that FFAW call on the federal government to provide financial support for inshore fish harvesters to compensate for the devastating impact COVID-19 will have on the 2020 fishing season.

The resolution passed during Inshore Council follows three calls held earlier today with Lobster Committee members from around the province. Over 50 harvesters joined in on the calls and there was unanimous concern regarding peoples’ safety. The Committee’s recommendation to delay the fishery was supported by the Inshore Council as per the above resolution that will apply to all other fisheries.

We would also like to remind members that the application portal for the CERB opens on Monday, April 6. If your claim is already expired or will expire by April 6, you are eligible to apply for the benefit if you earned $5000 during the last tax year. If you receive CPP and/or OAS you still are eligible to apply for CERB but these funds do not count towards the $5000 threshold. Click here to read more about the CERB and how to apply.