2J Snow Crab Quotas Take Another Massive Cut; NunatuKavut Fishery and Communities in Serious Jeopardy
HAPPY VALLEY-GOOSE BAY, LABRADOR, March 31, 2022 – NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC) President Todd Russell today issued the following statement on recent snow crab quota decisions made by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO):
“Today’s announcement by DFO on snow crab quotas adds to the dire situation in the Indigenous fishery in NunatuKavut. This latest decision by DFO is another in a series of crippling reductions without any response measures, showing the continual abandonment of NCC and our 2J fishers, processors and communities. Fishers on the island portion of our province will enjoy huge increases in snow crab quotas while our fishers take a massive 28 per cent cut. This means that fishers and plant workers on the island will reap immense benefits when fishers, plant workers and communities in NunatuKavut are fighting for survival.
Our people are deeply connected to the sea and the fishery that make up NunatuKavut. Our presence in the fishery is vitally important to the livelihood and sustainability of our people and communities. NCC has been honourable in our dealings with DFO and has been consistent with our fisheries approach and strategy, our values and ways of being. For decades, however, our participation in the fishery has been consistently marginalized and our fishers have been shut out from accessing some quotas at all.
I am calling for an emergency meeting with DFO Minister Joyce Murray to jointly develop a plan of action that will help stabilize the fishery and offset this devastating hit. NCC and 2J fishers have presented numerous options and, as an initial step, we have proposed to the Minister that a significant portion of the expected increase in Shrimp Fishing Area 4 TAC go to NCC and our fishers.
DFO must live up to its commitment of Indigenous reconciliation and take a fair and principled approach to allocations that recognizes our adjacency, Indigenous rights, cultural attachment and our great economic need.”
Media Contact
Kelly Broomfield
Director of Communications, NCC
T: 709-280-5965
E: communications@nunatukavut.ca