The following statement was issued today by the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources:

During the past several weeks fish harvesters and plant workers throughout Newfoundland and Labrador have been voicing genuine and serious concerns about the status of the 2020 fishing season as a result of the unprecedented impacts stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic on our province’s seafood industry.  Much of the frustration and anxiety being experienced is the result of uncertainty associated with anticipated federal government assistance regarding workplace safety, meaningful income support, and supports to offset financial impacts on vessel owners and plant operators.

I fully share these concerns and recognize the potential impact on workers and our rural communities that rely on a viable fishing sector for their economic well-being.  That is why I have had frequent discussions since the onset of COVID-19 with the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Canadian Coast Guard, to highlight the need for federal support across the Newfoundland and Labrador fishing sector.

Specifically, on April 24, I submitted three detailed proposals to Minister Jordan which outline specific income security, industry and safety support initiatives to assist Newfoundland and Labrador’s fishery and aquaculture industries mitigate the challenges associated with COVID-19. The full suite of recommendations presented to Minister Jordan can be viewed at the Department of Fisheries and Land Resources website.

A proposal for Income Support includes recommendations to:

• Extend all active regular and Employment Insurance fishing benefit claims until the date that a final decision is made about an individual’s relevant season opening;
• Ensure that Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security monthly payments are not clawed back from Canadian Emergency Response Benefit payments;
• Implement an income replacement initiative for older workers in the fish harvesting and processing sectors; and
• Implement a full income replacement program for those who don’t qualify for Employment Insurance benefits.

A proposal for Industry Safety includes recommendations to:

• Establish a funding program to cover the full cost of COVID-19-related occupational health and safety requirements for the fishery and other food processors; and
• Provide supports to fishing enterprise owners and fish plant operators to procure the necessary personal protective equipment needed to operate safely.

A proposal for Industry Support includes recommendations to:

• Institute mortgage and loan deferrals for fish harvesters and fish processors until 2021;
• Eliminate federal licenses and fees for the fishing sector in 2020; and
• Ensure all Canada Emergency Response Plan business programs have eligibility criteria that is inclusive for the fishing industry.

My advocacy, along with that of our Atlantic Canadian counterparts, has already helped secure federal government programs and investments including the elimination of duties on PPE, changes to the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit to include fish harvesters, and the $62.5 million to support the newly established Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund for the fish and seafood processing sector.

Rest assured, I plan to maintain this level of advocacy on behalf of our province’s fishing sector as the COVID-19 crisis continues to evolve.

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Media contact
Craig Renouf
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-637-2923, 640-6922
craigrenouf@gov.nl.ca