New oil and gas developments being conducted off of the Canada-Newfoundland coastline could have a serious impact on the fishing grounds of snow crab harvesters, according to the Fish Food & Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor). That’s why the organization is calling on officials to immediately halt the process.
At the end of August, the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) posted a new call for nominations regarding two offshore oil and gas exploration areas. Not only are the parcels located on crab fishing grounds, FFAW-Unifor said, but one of the nominated areas happens to be situated within a marine refuge closed to all fishing activity.
FFAW-Unifor President Keith Sullivan expressed concern over the lack of consultation between fish harvesters and the developers in an organizational press release.
“Our members were not consulted on the exploration area that is now up for nominations. We have significant concerns surrounding how this will impact fish harvesters, particularly those that participate in the snow crab fishery. Fish harvesters, who have already given up considerable fishing grounds in the name of conservation, will now potentially give up more valuable crab grounds to oil and gas companies,” Sullivan said.
Fish harvesters are often pushed farther out of their traditional trolling areas due to drilling, seismic activity, and exclusionary zone establishments that tend to arise from oil and gas developments, noted FFAW-Unifor.
“These recently announced areas could take millions of dollars in revenue away from the crab fishery and away from the rural communities who need it most,” the organization said.
“Each year our industry is expected to adjust and adapt to the expansion of oil and gas, but there is very little consideration for the impacts it has on the fishing industry or the marine environment. That has to change,” added Nelson Bussey, FFAW-Unifor executive board member and crab harvester from Port de Grave.
The regional snow crab fishery contributes CAD 1.5 billion (USD 1.1 billion, EUR 1.03 billion) to the provincial economy, according to FFAW-Unifor. The fishery has not seen any cuts recently – a reality that harvesters are hoping to keep intact, said Glen Winslow, FFAW-Unifor inshore council member and Shea Heights crab harvester.
“This region is the most lucrative crab fishing area in 3L. It hasn’t seen any cuts in recent years compared to many other areas that have seen quota reductions, and we won’t allow it to be taken away from us,” Winslow said.
As of now, FFAW-Unifor is calling for a joint meeting between fish harvesters, the Minister of Natural Resources, Siobhan Coady, and the C-NLOPB to share and address the concerns of the fishery.
“What we need is for the government and the oil and gas industry to respect the fishery and the role we play in our province. We refuse to get out of the way, and we refuse to be ignored,” said Andrew Daley, St. Joseph’s fish harvester and chair for the 3L crab fleet.
Sullivan and FFAW-Unifor aim to show the oil industry the importance, and tenacity, of the fishing communities of the region.
“With this recent announcement from the C-NLOPB, fish harvesters are once again being told to move out of the way. The oil industry is saying fish harvesters don’t matter; that their traditional fishing grounds don’t matter; that their communities don’t matter. We won’t stand for that,” Sullivan said.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
