Corner Brook MHA calls on Ottawa for a fair redfish quota

    Monday, 19 February 2024 07:00

    By Tonya Organ

    On January 26th, DFO announced a phased approach to re-open the Unit 1 redfish fishery this year with a minimum total allowable catch of 25,000 tonnes.

    Corner Brook MHA Gerry Byrne is calling on Ottawa and MP’s to allocate the redfish quota fairly. Redfish have made a remarkable comeback since 2011 and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) recently announced an end to the commercial redfish moratorium in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in place since 1995.  On January 26th, DFO announced a phased approach to re-open the Unit 1 redfish fishery this year with a minimum total allowable catch of 25,000 tonnes. Byrne says former fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc came to the Bay of Islands and made a commitment. He says offshore companies don’t have boats to fish this resource, not the plants or workers to process it. Byrne  says the federal government is forcing new boats and plant construction while those resources are in the Bay of Islands. He says many boats on the west coast do not have a significant catch to go after and with this quota, it would only be a half days work to catch it. Byrne says these boats belong to Indigenous people and existing boats should be preferred over building new capacity in other parts of Atlantic Canada. 

     

    To report an error, submit a news tip, or provide feedback, please e-mail news@bayfm.ca or call (709) 637-0183.

    More from Local News

     

     

     

    BayFM recognizes support from the following agencies:

                        

    Today's Weather

    • Corner Brook

      Low-level cloud

      High: -1°C | Low: -11°C

    • Deer Lake

      Sunny intervals

      High: 0°C | Low: -10°C

    • Stephenville

      Sunny intervals

      High: 0°C | Low: -7°C

    Recently Played

    Podcasts

    • BayFM On-Demand

      Singer Songwriter Rebecca Hampton on Bay Fm

      Singer Songwriter Rebecca Hampton visits Bay Fm

    • Sunday Night Geek

      Sunday Night Geek, March 29, 2026

      Sunday Night Geek, March 29, 2026

    • Trash Talk

      TRASH TALK THURSDAY

      On this Trash Talk! We welcome a special guest from the City of Corner Brook to talk about their new recycling program! #sortit #trashtalknl #sortitwestern