Fishermen want to be consulted – Queens NDP tour

“It is a chance for Sterling to be able to hear some of our local concerns here within our fishing communities,” said Conrad. “It’s important we all understand how this industry has been struggling for so many years.”

At noon Conrad and Belliveau arrived at the Port Medway wharf, where a few local residents greeted them.

One resident was there to discuss the Employment Insurance situation, Conrad said, while other concerns included the conditions around sculpin being brought in for use as bait.

If the Department of Fisheries and Oceans makes the sculpin part of a license by-catch condition, fishermen can no longer have a certain amount on their boat, she explained.

“So that is a huge concern if conditions are being changed without consultation with the industry and, most importantly that industry is the local fisherman on the ground.”

Belliveau, a fisherman by trade, has already been advocating for consultation to ensure changes that affect fishermen make sense, said Conrad.

Conrad notes the World Trade Organization has been meeting since 2001 about the bigger issue of sustainability.

It was brought to their attention that Employment Insurance and whether or not it should be considered a subsidy for fishermen is a topic of discussion, she said.

At this point it is in draft form. “Having something on the table since 2001 kind of raises some eyebrows,” she stated.

Their next stop on the wharf tour was in West Berlin. They also visited wharves in Brooklyn, Moose Harbour, Hunts Point, Port Mouton and East Side Port L’Hebert.