Nova Scotia MLA and fisheries critic says fishermen should have been consulted

SHELBURNE, N.S. – Sterling Belliveau, the NDP provincial fisheries critic and MLA for Shelburne, N.S., claims the stacking of lobster licences in the Atlantic lobster industry is a breach of the Preserving the Independence of the Independent Inshore Atlantic Fishing Fleet policy that was put in place by the federal fisheries minister. “Recent Department of Fisheries and Oceans regulatory changes allow fishermen to fish more than once licence per boat without both licence holders being present,” says Belliveau. “The first the LFA 34 advisory committee heard of this change was when it was presented to them in late October. The Fishermen are infuriated that these changes were made without any consultation.”

Since the port-elected representatives on the LFA 34 advisory committee were not consulted, the decision to make regulatory changes was made without local input Belliveau says.

For its part, DFO says it has talked opening about loosening licence restrictions. “Nova Scotia fishermen are looking for consultation based on trust and good faith,” Belliveau says. “The provincial minister of fisheries must contact his federal counterpart immediately to ensure proper consultations take place.”

Belliveau stressed that advisory committees are set up to advise on issues they know about. “When decisions are made without their input, it is fishing families and fishing communities that could end up being hurt,” says Belliveau, who held a press conference on Nov. 12.