Prince Edward Island Fisheries Minister Kevin MacAdam has commended Cardigan MP Lawrence MacAulay for his quick action in having a decision overturned which would restrict herring fishermen along the north shore of Prince Edward Island. Last week, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced that fishermen using fixed gear bait nets would be restricted to fishing inside the 17-fathom line from October 1 to December 31 for safety reasons. Mr. MacAulay said DFO has now lifted the restriction.
“I am very pleased that Mr. MacAulay was able to intervene on this important matter affecting Prince Edward Island herring fishermen,” said Mr. MacAdam. “The proposed restriction clearly demonstrated that DFO is squarely on the side of the herring seiner fishery and is willing to play hardball with the lives of Island fishermen.”
Mr. MacAdam said DFO did not even have the courtesy to consult with his department, the Fishermen’s Association or the herring advisory committee on the matter. ”It was not even mentioned during a meeting last week between DFO and herring fishermen in Moncton to discuss the development of more transparency in the disputed herring fishery,” said Mr. MacAdam. “Clearly DFO is not serious about addressing the issues in the dispute, which further underlines the necessity of seeking a legal resolution.”
Mr. MacAdam said he was pleased that Mr. MacAulay was able to have an unfair and unfounded policy overturned, saying it is an example of how DFO is failing to consult with other government and the industry in an open and forthright manner. “I can only wish that Mr. MacAulay and the other Island MPs were able to achieve progress on a number of other outstanding issues,” he said. “If so, we might have a better working relationship with the federal government on fisheries management and licensing issues.”