ST. JOHN’S, N.L.
Burin fisherman Les Fudge is one of three finalists up for the Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador’s (FISH-NL) inaugural inshore harvester of the year award.
Fudge was skipper on the fishing boat Little Jack last June when the vessel was hammered by a severe storm roughly 120 kilometres from Burin. Though the boat lost most of its rigging and was listing badly, Fudge managed to bring the ship safely back to port.
Keith Bath and Joshua Ryan, who are both from La Scie, are the other two award finalists.
“The quality of the dozen entries we received was outstanding,” Merv Wiseman, judge and search and rescue advocate, said in a FISH-NL news release issued on Friday, Jan. 18 announcing the finalists.
“Each and every entry was worthy of distinction, so we had to make some hard decisions.”
The winner will be announced at FISH-NL’s convention in Gander on Jan. 24.
“This award — the first of its kind in the province that we know of — celebrates the role of inshore harvesters in our culture, society, economy, and future as a fishing province,” said FISH-NL president Ryan Cleary.
