Article contentFordham said he also sent the proposed changes to the provincial government, hoping to secure its support for change, but never received any reply.Article contentHe takes exception to the recreational groundfish fishery’s benefits not being enhanced as a conservation measure, especially in light of the commercial northern cod fishery quota being incresed by 20,000 tonnes this year one year after the moratorium on commercial northern cod fishing was lifted.Article content“We cannot fathom DFO’s reasoning of how fishers using a hook and line can have a detrimental effect on the cod stocks when the commercial sector’s quota was increased from 18,000 tonnes to 38,000 … For DFO to be using the conservation card against this, then the moratorium should never have been ended,” he said.Article content‘We should not be left out’Article contentThe recreational groundfish fishery wasn’t completely unchanged.Article contentArticle contentThere is going to be a new tagging system for tour boat operators to allow their guests to catch two fish any day of the week. Fordham doesn’t disagree with that, but said more courtesy should have also been extended to residents and not just tourists.Article content“While we support the tour boat operators to access the resource, we should not be left out,” he said. “As it stands, people from everywhere in the world can come to Newfoundland and Labrador and fish our waters, except the very people that live here. Talk about discrimination.”Article contentKeeping up the fightArticle contentDespite the setbacks, Fordham said the work for changes to the food fishery will continue in earnest.Article contentHe and a group of like-minded advocates are considering taking legal action and are looking to secure the services of a lawyer to help that initiative. They also plan to continue to seek the support of the provincial government for their efforts.Article contentArticle content“We need a fishery advocate or ombudsman in Ottawa assigned by government to fight for us because our provincial and federal representatives are not doing their jobs,” said Fordham.Article contentThe petition that has been circulating is also not being given up on. It is not one that can be properly channeled through to Parliament in Ottawa, but the online petition will remain open for more signatures.Article contentThere are two versions of the petition at the change.org website. One had garnered 3,355 signatures, while the other has generated 508 names.Article content“Although it cannot be presented in the House of Commons, it — along with the increasing numbers of our membership of our Facebook group, the Food Fishery Fighters — represents the will of the people and that cannot be ignored,” said Fordham.Article contentUpcoming consultationsArticle contentWhile there are no significant changes for the recreational groundfish fishery this year, Thompson did reference holding consultations in the fall before any changes for the 2026 season can be considered.
Groundfish confoundment: Recreational fishery advocate wont give up fight for changes
