More protests to come, says fishermen’s rep

By Paul Herridge

Transcontinental Media/Southern Gazette

Alfred Fitzpatrick called the federal government’s response to the crisis in the lobster industry “totally inadequate” and a “slap in the face.”

The Lamaline, N.L. fisherman, who is a member of the Inshore Council of Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) – representing Burin Peninsula fishermen in the bottoms of both Placentia and Fortune Bays – was among the 20 or so involved in an overnight protest at federal minister Peter MacKay’s St. John’s office.

Fitzpatrick said more action is inevitable, as fishermen get more and more desperate. The protest was just a start. “We had to do something and I mean there’s going to be more. Mark my words There’s going to be more.”

In fact, he said a plan was already in the works last week. He called on all fishermen to support one another and offer up a unified stance. “If we don’t want to stand up and fight for ourselves, no one should be fighting for us. Now is the time to show up. Stand up and be counted, as they say.”

Federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea announced a $65 million package on June 10 to help alleviate some of the pain caused by this year’s low prices. Fitzpatrick pointed out only $15 million of the total amount would be available to fishermen in tangible aid for the short term, and that’s divided among harvesters in the four Atlantic Canada provinces along with Quebec.

The rest will be invested in what was described in a news release accompanying Minister Shea’s announcement as “Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Measures to support those in the industry who develop and implement long-term sustainability plans.” “There’s not a boat in Placentia Bay going to qualify for what the minister announced, and the vast majority in Fortune Bay won’t either,” said Fitzpatrick. “If they do qualify, they still won’t get nothing because there’s nothing there.”