The Canadian Independent Fish Harvesters’ Movement announced today that the first policy forum for Atlantic Canadian independent fishermen will take place Wednesday and Thursday at the Westin Hotel in Halifax.
A news release says the meeting will bring together 100 delegates representing owner-operator fishermen from fishing communities in Atlantic Canada and Quebec.
Owner-operator fleets land 75 per cent of the value of the Atlantic fishery and represent more than 10,000 individual fishing enterprises. They are the region’s single-largest private sector employer.
The release states the first-ever policy forum was sparked by attempts in 2012 to allow corporations to control fishing licences for species like lobster, crab, groundfish and shrimp. The issue brought fishermen together from across the Atlantic in a show of unity.
“The events of the last year made independent fishermen realize they need to have a united voice on the numerous changes that are taking place in the fishery," said policy forum chairperson Christian Brun.
“The days are over when other fishery sectors and governments could circumvent the Canadian independent fleets or ignore them altogether.”
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