Protesters gather at DFO office in Corner Brook to voice frustration over redfish quota

Outside the Department of Fisheries and Oceans office in Corner Brook, a crowd of about 50 people gathered to express their frustration with a recent federal decision to allot a 19 per cent share of the redfish quota to Newfoundland and Labrador.

In late January, federal Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier announced the redfish allocation for the Atlantic provinces in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The announcement left harvesters worried about what it could mean for their livelihoods and drew criticism from provincial politicians.

One protester, Rendell Genge of Anchor Point, asked the crowd to raise their hands if they'll lose their jobs if the redfish quota isn't increased.

"Redfish was our only hope. We was let down. No one was any more disappointed than I was when this announcement was made," said Genge. "The battle is just beginning, in my books."

Thursday afternoon's protest was organized by the Fish, Food & Allied Workers union. Secretary-treasurer Jason Spingle said the crowd was there to show their resolve and disappointment with the decision.

The redfish fishery was shuttered in 1995, but prior to that N.L.'s quota was 17 per cent. Spingle said they had hoped their allotment would increase by far more this time round.

"We saw this as a real opportunity to a transition for our industry and our communities and the whole west coast as a region. And we really thought we'd get a much bigger share," he told CBC News.

Instead, Spingle said, they were "floored" by the decision, as the union had high hopes for the future of the redfish fishery.

"This was the fishery that we're going to sustain the fleet of, you know, 30 to 40 boats with four or five crew on each boat and two or three plants here in the west coast," he said.

Decision means devastation

Fisheries Minister Elvis Loveless, also the MHA for Fortune Bay-Cape La Hune, said harvesters are worried about losing their businesses and their boats.

"That's real, that's raw and that's devastation," Loveless told CBC News.

Loveless said the allotment needs to go beyond 19 per cent, adding he would love to see it at 30 per cent.

"We want more. The harvesters need more," said Loveless.

He said he's looking to arrange a meeting with his federal counterpart to ask for further details and discussions. There is a newly started redfish advisory committee, which will also discuss allocations, he said.

When Genge asked the protesters how many thought they'd lose their livelihoods from this quota, Loveless estimated 95 per cent of the crowd raised their hands, which he called a "strong message."

"My message to the federal minister is that you need to go back to the drawing board on this. And need to reset the button and really focus on the fact that these people may be without a job, without a livelihood. Where do they go from there?"

Stephenville-Port au Port MHA and PC Leader Tony Wakeham said the issue extends beyond fish harvesters, plant workers, crews and politicians to everyone in the province.

"Our communities in rural Newfoundland and Labrador survive because of the fishery. And let me tell you, we talk a lot about renewable, about megaprojects," he said. "Well, the fishery is a renewable megaproject that brings billions of dollars to the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador every single year."

He said it's frustrating to see the federal government make decisions based on politics over logic.

Recalling N.L.'s decision to become a Canadian province 75 years ago, which gave the federal government control of the management of N.L.'s fishery, Wakeham said it was a mistake. "We've been paying for it ever since."

He then suggested the creation of a fisheries accord.

"So no more decisions get made when it comes to quotas or when it comes to the size of your boats or the type of gear you're going to use or any other fishery management decision," said Wakeham.

"No decisions get made unless Newfoundland and Labrador is sitting at the table and making those decisions. Because that has to be the goal."

Worry about future

Jenny Brake, chief of the Qalipu First Nation, is also concerned about the redfish quota allocation.

"I had been hoping for a lot more than what we received, that is for sure," Brake said Thursday. 

She said the Qalipu have had many conversations with ministers in the past few years and in 2016 when DFO established a redfish advisory group.

"We have the processors. We have the boats. We have the plant workers," she said. "It's really disappointing to be left out of something that you've been asked to be consulting with for so long. And I feel like it's something that happens far too often."

Brake said Indigenous voices were invited to sit in on discussions, giving their feedback, only to be ignored, which she said feels like "tokenism."

"The offshore quota percentage is a real blow for the inshore fleet and our Indigenous harvesters, and the creation of 10 per cent indigenous pool is a tokenistic, you know, way of doing things."

Protester Guy Gallant, an Indigenous harvester, said his family has been involved with the fishery for 60 years.

West coast harvesters don't have anything else to rely on, he said, and had put their hopes in the fishery.

"We got no shrimp. We got no crab," said Gallant. "The mackerel was closed, and this was the beacon that we were heading toward. This was our saving grace, this red fishery."

He said his worst fear now is that this will "finish" harvesters like himself and what it could mean for businesses like the plant in his hometown that employs hundreds of people.

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