Fishing Moratorium in Newfoundland

Fishing Moratorium

As a child, we had a waterfront cottage in Picton, Ontario.

We would go to the cottage each weekend. 

 It was an hour drive from our house in Trenton. 

My neighbours made it a memorable place, a home away from home.

I was always excited for Fridays.

I would get home from school and we would quickly pack and gone to the cottage. 

 I loved going with my neighbours boating, waterskiing, sailing, fishing and

they taught me how to swim. The biggest fish I caught was probably a Pickeral of 3-4lbs.

I never caught anything like Newfoundlanders are use to catching. 

Cod can get up to two metres and love the cold Atlantic deep sea waters.

When I came to Newfoundland, I was suprised I didn't see many people fishing. I didn't see  alot of families boating or bringing in fish.  I seen fishing boats, sitting.  Our Newfoundland neighbour invited me to go fishing.  The luer was heavier than, the fish I was use to catching.  I never caught a thing !  This is when I learned what the word, moratorium meant.

The fishing industry collapsed in Newfoundland in the early 1990s, due to overfishing. 

 In 1992 the Canadian government declared a moratorium on the Northern Cod fishery.

Processing plants closed and boats were tied up.  Some 30,000 Newfoundlanders lost their jobs because of restricting fishing of Cod. The moratorium was to last approximately 2 years.  Many Newfoundlanders had no choice, but to leave their home and native land for employment on the Mainland.

Brian Tobin, the Canadian Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans,

 in 1995 reopened the hunt on the harp seal, which prey on cod, stating:

 "There is only one major player still fishing the cod."

Seals eat one to two tonnes of fish every year. 

 I haven't seen a seal yet, that isn't fat as a fool.

It is 2017. The COD Moratorium remains in place today
.

I wanted to BELIEVE that when I took this photograph,

these Fisherman were all docked

 safe and sound in the harbour, 

enjoying Jigg's Dinner this Sunday. 

Instead a harsh reality, 
the facts exist and cannot be ignored.
Newfoundlander's feel a cultural loss and it is felt deep in a Newfoundlander's soul.
Many families hold on to the hope of coming back home to Rock.

Now I see by walking in their shoes it has brought  deeper understanding.