Support still sought against cusk listing

By Carla Allen

FOR THE SOU'WESTER

The tide of concerned fishermen continues to rise against the potential listing of cusk as an endangered species.

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife (COSEWIC) in Canada is leading the review on cusk. It provides advice to government on the status of wildlife species in Canada and has determined that the abundance of this species is down.

Presentations from fishing industry stakeholders have been made to several municipal councils, with the most recent at the Municipality of Barrington, N.S. last week.

Maurice Shand, a Shag Harbour, N.S. lobster fisherman representing Lobster Fishing Area 34 Bear Point/Shag Harbour, spoke on behalf of many men who make their livelihood from the sea.

“Myself and every fisherman I know is very, very disturbed at what these committees of COSEWIC and SARA (Species at Risk Act) have done, and the science that they have done is totally incorrect,” said Shand.

At issue for many fishermen is that research on the cusk population was tabulated from cusk caught by draggers. Fishermen say that species normally isn’t fished by dragger so numbers would be low regardless.

Shand says the cusk issue is going to possibly devastate the lobster industry because the fish is a bycatch and lobster fishermen will not be able to fish in areas where cusk is.

“We’ll all feel it – the families, the businesses, the municipalities. We’re all going to feel it, big time,” he said.

He urged councillors to complete a cusk consultation workbook and survey that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans are circulating to the public.

Stakeholders and individuals have until August 1 to make comments on the socio-economic impacts

The Municipality of Barrington unanimously passed a motion to write a letter of support against the listing of cusk as an endangered species.