DFO defends northern shrimp catch by offshore fleet

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is defending its decision to allow offshore factory freezer trawlers to catch northern shrimp this spring, even though its own scientists say the stock is vulnerable to collapse.

Inshore fishermen have criticized the fishing, because2016 quotas have not yet been set, and could be cut significantly.

Sylvie LaPointe,the director general of fisheries resource with DFO, told CBCthe offshore fleet was given about two weeksto catch shrimp in Area 6 but the fish is a carry-over from last year.

"Because of ice conditions that were very bad, they weren't able to harvest their available quota in 2015,"LaPointesaid in an interviewwith CBC Radio'sThe Broadcast.

The fleet will be allowed to take 3,200 tonnes of the 4,000 tonnes it couldn't catch last year.

'This is the bread and butter'

Glenn Best,who fishes shrimp off Fogo Island,said the so-called "bridgingpolicy"should not have been applied in Area 6 at a time when stocks are under review.

"The [cod] moratorium would be a walk in the park compared to what's going to happen if we lose this shrimp," he said.

"This is the bread and butter. This is what sustains communitiesfrom FogoIsland to St. Anthony to southern Labrador. We need this shrimp. Why are we taking chances with it?"

Best said inshore harvesters are angry and frustrated.

"I urge people...they should not stay quiet," he said, encouraging people to make submissions to a ministerial advisory panelthat has public consultations during May and June.

Best said the offshore fleet did not catch its shrimp quota last year because they had other options, and should not be allowed to harvest the fish in a new quota cycle.

LaPointesaid the bridging policy is applied to both the inshore and offshore fleets.

"The offshore fleet tends to utilize it more because they fish year-round," she said.

"The inshore fleet could have availed of it this year, but they had very little fish remaining in the water from 2015."

LaPointe said the large trawlers were given a limited time to catch the remainder of their carried over shrimp quotaonly 15 days instead of the usual 90, because of the concerns about the health of the stock.