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Statement on Closure of 2016 Mackerel Fishery

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Statement on Closure of 2016 Mackerel Fishery
October 14, 2016
10/14/2016

Harvesters are angered by today’s closure of this year’s Mackerel fishery. This year harvesters experienced increases in catch levels compared to previous years. In light of these increases, FFAW-Unifor has requested an urgent meeting with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to discuss an increase in quota.

Mackerel is a trans-boundary stock. Historically, quotas were set equally on both sides of the border. In recent years, Canada has set a much lower total allowable catch. Currently the United States sets a quota of more than 20,000 tons. In Canada, DFO has allocated only 8,000 tons of Mackerel to Atlantic Canada. FFAW-Unifor has consistently expressed serious concerns with the disparity in quota levels.

Mackerel brings significant value to harvesters in this province. Given the increases in catch levels in 2016, NL harvesters must be given the opportunity to catch more Mackerel this year.

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Dr. Erin Carruthers

Dr. Erin Carruthers is the Science Director and Senior Fisheries Scientist with the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor), which is the labour union that represents the owner-operator fleet in Newfoundland and Labrador. The FFAW is committed to research and management that supports healthy oceans, fisheries, and coastal communities. Dr. Carruthers received her Ph. D. in Biology from Memorial University in 2011 followed by a postdoctoral fellowship with the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research. Before coming to Newfoundland, Erin worked as a Research Biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada at the St. Andrews Biological Station. Her current research program is co-constructed with fish harvesters and includes research on coastal fishing communities, collaborative longline and trap surveys, and best practices for the avoidance, handling and release of unwanted catch.