The FFAW says there is “relief all around” now that the provincial government has decided to terminate the MOU on a feasibility assessment for a proposed Marine Protected Area off the province’s south coast.
Union President Dwan Street told VOCM Open Line that the union couldn’t get satisfactory answers from Parks Canada to their questions about the impact of a South Coast Fjords National Marine Conservation Area on commercial fisheries.
“This whole process has been so murky,” says Street. “They’ll throw out numbers like ‘well this is going to bring $100 million into these communities.’ and we’ll say ‘well, how? Show us,’ and they can’t. And they’ll say ‘well, this will create all these jobs’” but can’t answer when, or how. She says tourism is great, but it’s only so many months a year and the fishery in the area is conduced by small boat, multi-species enterprises.
Street says the suggestion that a joint committee can manage a commercial fishery in a marine protected area is misleading.
“There are certain fisheries that under an NMCA is absolutely not permitted” says Street, “I just think about the scallop fishery in that area, bottom dragging is not permitted whatsoever in an NMCA, and though the scallop fishery in that area is very low volume, it’s very high value, and it’s important to our members.”
Minister Chris Tibbs
Conservation still a priority for government says minister
The Minister of Environment is offering assurances that conservation remains a priority for the provincial government even as it protects the aquaculture, fishing and mining industries.
Chris Tibbs this week announced that the province was terminating the MOU process, citing a need for “balance” in protecting the environment, while ensuring that local industry is not adversely affected.
“These industries, we’re going to make sure they’re protected moving forward” says Tibbs. “Conservation is more than welcome here in Newfoundland and Labrador…but it won’t be to the detriment of the industries that provide pay cheques to families.”