Fish harvesters change scenery, continue to call on N.L. government to open market to outside buyers

For a second day in a row, fish and crab harvesters voiced their grievancesat a Newfoundland and Labrador government buildingover constraints imposed on theircatches.

Currently, harvesters have to sell their catches to processors inside the province at a price agreed upon by the Fish, Food & Allied Workers union and the Association of Seafood Producers.

On Tuesday, more than 150 protesters took to theConfederation Building to lay out their grievancesand demand that they be allowed to sell their catches to out-of-province buyers.

On Wednesday morning, harvesterscongregated at the parking lot of the provincial government's Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture building, also known as the Petten Building, on Strawberry Road in St. John's.

They blocked the entrance, preventing employees from entering.

WATCH | Bruce Short explains why he and other fish harvesters are protesting:

This harvester explains why he and others are blocking government offices

7 months ago

Duration 1:43

Fish harvesters have shut down a Department of Fisheries provincial office in St. Johns. Fisherman Bruce Short says big business is grinding independent harvesters out of the industry and the provincial government is letting it happen.

John Efford, a harvester who was part of the protest, said they were gathered to reiterate their message from the previous day.

"It's a show of numbers, a show of numbers to the government. B'ys, look, you know we're all on board here. All the fishharvesters got the same issues. We want free enterprise," Efford told CBC News.

He said companies have taken advantage of government policies "to create a cartel and collude to control the fishery" and the government could change that policy and fix the situation.

Blocked access

Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officers were also present, walkingthrough the crowds.

Bruce Short, a harvester from Long Island Beaumont, Green Bay, said he was at the protest despite having a heart attack three weeks ago to push for changes to the current model.

"We're just not going to let anyone in the building until someone does right by us," said Short.

Thismight be the harvesters' last chance to protest ahead of the season starting up, he added.

"And if we don't do it now, you will be going back out on the water again for crab. You'll be bringing it in and you'll be giving it to the companies. And they're going to be laughing at you, all the way to the bank," said Short.

Efford apologized to government workersas crowds obstructedthe building's entrance.

"I'll put it out there now, that I apologize to any workers of the Petten Building that can't get in here today. Enjoy your holiday," said Efford. "The protest is going to continue on until the policy'schanged."

Calls for change

Short said he was protesting for the right to make a living in the fishing industry.

"Most everyone here has grown up working on the water and right now we have a cartel in this industry. And it seems like that the powers that be the ones that are supposed to be looking after this province our government has been taken over by big business," he said.

Short said they want the right to go out onto the water when they want and to have access to all species of fish.

"And not just the companies telling us when we can go and when we got to come in."

WATCH | 'Apologize to any workers that got a holiday today':

Fish harvesters shut down N.L. Fisheries Department office

7 months ago

Duration 1:13

Apologize to any workers that got a holiday today, said a fish harvester as he and his fellow fishermen took their protest to a government office in St. Johns, blocking the door and preventing access to the building.

Short also said there have been times when harvesters have been told to go out onto the ocean when the weather "hasn't been fit" and people have died.

He said the current situation has to end, and by gathering independent fish harvesters, as well as plant workers, they can make that change.

"Because when we are gone, when we're finished, the plants will be gone as well," warned Short.

When?

During question period inside the House of Assembly, Opposition Leader Tony Wakeham continued to push Premier Andrew Furey for answers.

A day ago, Furey said his government is committed to looking at "structural issues" within the fishery, including the potential for outside buyers, processing capacity and controlling agreements.

On Wednesday, Wakeham asked the premier when that will happen.

Furey said it will happen in "due course."

"We want to make sure that there's a timely, orderly start to this fishery," he said.

Wakeham again asked Furey if he believes in free enterprise in the province's fishery.

Furey turned the question around on Wakeham. Neither answered directly.

After question period, Furey told reporters he took the summer to speak with harvesters and plant workers. He said his office speaks with the Fish, Food & Allied Workers union and the Association of Seafood Processors multiple times a day.

"I can't make people fish and I can't make them buy, but we can try to set the right ecosystem for that to actually occur in," he said.

Both the FFAW and ASP are meeting to discuss a new model for price setting that will have a better risk-reward system in place for both harvesters and processors. Last year's price setting model created a rift that saw crab harvesters delay the start of their season by six weeks.

"Government is just a facilitator here. We set the process, but it's up to the two parties to come to an agreement on price. If that doesn't happen it goes to an adjudication process," Furey said.

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