The kind of fishery we want

It's hard to talk about Newfoundland's past - any part of Newfoundland's past, distant or recent - without bringing up the fishery.

It was the reason many communities were founded, continued and thrived for many years. It provided a livelihood for many families, the people who built this province. The fishery is responsible for much of the tradition, lore and culture we now market to tourists from every corner of the world.

But just as one can't argue with the fishery's historical importance or cultural contributions, few would claim times haven't changed.

The fishery is not what is once was - hasn't been for more than 20 years. Yet, as a province, we're still trying to figure out how to deal with that new reality.

Over the years there have been federal license buy-outs, re-training programs and make work projects, all in an effort to deal with the changes and their impacts on people. There has been talk about marketing, arguments over science and the decline of many rural communities whose heart had been the local wharf.

Last summer, the provincial government, the union and the processing sector signed a memorandum of understanding on the fishery's future.

It provided a plan for addressing the long-term structural issues in the fishing industry, including the establishment of working groups to address key areas, such as marketing and restructuring.

It's that last word that seems to be making some people nervous.

Restructure the fishery into what? What form will Newfoundland's fishery take in the future?

Many scream that there is overcapacity in the harvesting and processing sectors and fewer fishers and plants are needed. But there are also those who provide solid arguments and examples of why that's just not true.

Take for example, the fact that fish don't respect human timelines. Seasons can only be extended so long before the fish migrate and the season on the water ends, whether or not it ends on paper.

A future fishery with fewer harvesters and fewer plants is what many are calling for. But is it really the best scenario for the province?

Do we want fewer enterprises and fewer buyers, each with increasing amounts of power in the industry? Many harvesters believe that has been the secret plan for years - slowly but surely pushing the 'little guy' out of the industry and moving toward the bigger and more concentrated.

Or would we rather have more players, each of whom might be smaller, but who are still 'big fish' to the future of their rural communities?

The province says its support of the fishing industry has been "continuous and unwavering" and is set to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on implementing its plans.

That's why it's a good idea to ask what those plans might look like before the implementation process begins.

The fishery is a resource that belongs to the people of the province. Three groups - the province, processors and union - that all have a stake, are making decisions about its future.

Each group brings a lot of knowledge about the realities of the industry to the table, but they each also bring their own biases. It's only sensible to ask why these groups want the changes they are pushing for and in whose best interest they might be.

The fishery may not be what it once was, but that doesn't mean it's unimportant. Many people and communities still depend on it; some would call it the backbone of rural Newfoundland.

If the people of the province want a future for the fishery, now is the time to think about what it should look like and how we will get there.

editor@gulfnews.ca