The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is extending the food fishery in some parts of Newfoundland and Labrador to reflect the desires of residents and address an inequity long bemoaned by Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
A recent survey showed that the vast majority of the nearly 10,000 respondents wanted to see an extension of the food fishery to full weeks in Newfoundland and Labrador, as is the case in the Maritime provinces.
NAFO division areas (DFO)
The food fishery, from Canada Day to Labour Day will be extended to seven days a week in area 2J3KL, which includes the Avalon Peninsula, and northeast coast from Trinity Bay to the Great Northern Peninsula and the southeast coast of Labrador.
However, because cod stocks are not doing as well on the south coast and Gulf of St. Lawrence, the food fishery on the south and west coasts of the island will remain at 3 days a week.
The fall food fishery will be held on the last nine days of September.
The daily bag limit will stay at 5 groundfish per person in all areas, however the 15-fish per boat limit has been eliminated.
Minister Joanne Thompson says officials will not be “policing” people out on the water, but will be enforcing the law surrounding the illegal sale of fish.
MHAs last week unanimously endorsed the extension in the House of Assembly.
