Environmental organization Oceana Canada wants Newfoundland and Labrador capelin fishery to take a break

CORNER BROOK, N.L. — Nearly two weeks after harvesters and processors walked out of a capelin advisory meeting, an environmental organization at the centre of the spat is calling for a temporary halt to the capelin fishery. On March 22, both the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP), which represents fish processors in Newfoundland and Labrador, and FFAW-Unifor, the union representing the province’s fish harvesters and plant workers, abruptly left a Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) advisory committee meeting for Area 2J3KL capelin. The ASP and FFAW took issue after Oceana Canada and another non-governmental environmental organization, Oceans North, had their status at the meeting elevated from observer to stakeholder. The status change meant the environmental organizations could have more say during the proceedings, rather than being limited to making written submissions in advance, and observing the meeting and asking questions at its conclusion. The harvesters and ...