Today, the federal government announced that areas 23, 24 and 26, the latter being in our Chéticamp region, will open on May 15th, 2020. Leonard LeBlanc, president of the Gulf Nova Scotia Fisherman’s Coalition, representing local fishers, said he’s happy with the decision. 

“This is what we had recommended from our association here on the coalition side,” LeBlanc said. “We thought that going back to the 15th would give us a better appreciation of the market and also a better understanding of the COVID curve to see if it’s flattening or … what’s happening because health is still our main concern moving forward.” Associations in New Brunswick and Quebec had also requested a delay in the fishing season.

The Coalition is seeking financial support to go along with the delay. “I think the next step is to carry on dialoguing with the [Department of Fisheries and Oceans] and other federal departments to try to have a financial aid package for our fishermen,” LeBlanc said, “even if it starts on the 15th, we are still going to need some financial aid because the market doesn’t seem to have improved much.” 

Having the fishery close for the season would be the association’s first choice, providing that the government provides the financial package. “I’m not sure that’s going to come together quick enough for that to happen,” LeBlanc said, “I’m hoping that from now to the 15th we can come to a better understanding with the federal government. Trudeau seems to be announcing different measures every day so hopefully some day he will be announcing something specific for the fisheries. Oil and gas got a package, the farmers got a package, so I think with what we represent to the economy of eastern Canada, especially in the Atlantic provinces, it will be viable for them to help us out, too.”

The association continues to advocate for this year’s closure of the Chéticamp crab processing plant. “We had the prime minister going on national news saying it wouldn’t be proper for all MPs to sit in the House and bring their staff to Ottawa and then travel back home, but it’s okay to put 200-300 workers in a plant. One is not jiving with the other, so we’d appreciate having consistency,” he said, “They should be thinking about that and offer them a package also.”

Area 12, our local area for snow crab fishing will be opening this Friday April 24th, 2020. The plant is set to begin operations the following Monday.