I write regarding a letter from Gus Etchegary of the Fishery Community Alliance published in your paper on Feb. 22, 2021 (“A fish-damned tale”).
I can only hope and pray that if I reach the age of Gus Etchegary I will have the same passion and drive that this man has always shown.
I have known him for many years and have always admired his love for the province and the industry that he knows so much about.
When we, as a people, chose to join Canada in 1949, I believe we made the right decision. However, I describe myself as a proud Canadian but always as a Newfoundlander and Labradorian first.
All the fisheries decisions that have to be made and are being made should always be based on good and practical science. This is a most important point.
I can only hope and pray that if I reach the age of Gus Etchegary I will have the same passion and drive that this man has always shown.
We have a world-class facility for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in the White Hills in St. John’s. However, we have to ensure that their science branch/facility is always adequately funded by our federal government. This goes back to our terms in joining Canada in 1949.
We, as a province, are very fortunate to have our world-class university and the Marine Institute. These institutions are doing good work for their students and researchers.
We, as a people, have to insist to our federal government that all of our fisheries matters are squarely based on good science that is always adequately funded.
There has been no real leadership from any of the leaders of any party during the ongoing provincial election. In a word, this is an appalling fact.
The fishing industry is our oldest industry and I am shocked that no one is really discussing it. This is a continuous food industry and, as Etchegary insists, it is a tremendous benefit to our people.
To state again, we have to ensure that good science practices are always followed. We have a lot to learn from our friends the Icelanders and the Norwegians as to how a continuous fishing industry is to be conducted.
R. David Moores,
Harbour Grace
