Urging debt relief for young fishermen

Theriault, who serves as Liberal fisheries critic, says huge debts are a problem facing a lot of younger fishermen in Nova Scotia and the issue is one that has been created by the federal government.

“The government artificially inflated the price of fishing licenses for bureaucratic reasons,” Theriault said. “However, given the current shaky economic situation and as well as these massive debts, many fishermen will almost certainly be in financial trouble.”

Theriault said fishermen in Lobster Fishing Area 34 may be forced to self-manage their fishery and slow up the supply of landed lobster after the season opens Monday.

“Something has to give before the bottom falls out of the lobster fishery,” Theriault said. “The industry is too important in communities across Nova Scotia to simply allow that to happen.”