Mi’kmaw communities in Newfoundland and Labrador are disappointed by the recent announcement made by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to end the cod moratorium.
The federal government introduced the moratorium in 1992 to preserve the northern cod species. However, the recent changes announced on June 26 have allowed increased access to offshore fleets, raising the total allowable catch (TAC) from 13,000 tones to 18,000 tones.
Ross Hinks, Director of Natural Resources at Miawpukek First Nation, says the amount of cod caught in their area has dropped “dramatically.”
“We used to have a pretty good fishery until the commercial fishery was concentrated out of the coastal area that is proximate to our fishing area; since then, numbers have dropped dramatically,” says Hinks.
This has affected the traditional way of life for members of the Miawpukek First Nation, who rely on fishing throughout the year.
“Cod fishing was always part of our daily life,” Hinks says.
1992 cod moratorium was “devastating” – Interim Chief Jenny Brake
Interim Chief Jenny Brake of Qalipu First Nation, who grew up in a small fishing community, says cod fishing was a part of their livelihood.
“I grew up at a wharf, and I saw the fisherman go to work every day; that’s how we fed our family; that’s how our mother and father fed us,” Chief Brake says.
Chief Brake says the 1992 cod moratorium was “devastating” to the community.
“It was a very mournful day; that meant your mother or father were going to leave and go to Alberta or possibly your entire family,” she recalls. “Houses were boarded up.”
Hinks says there needs to be more consultation by the government into incorporating Indigenous knowledge before making decisions that affect them.
“It is really not taken into consideration whatsoever; we are rarely asked about that kind of knowledge prior to a lot of those decisions being made,” Hinks says.
Chief Brake echoes a similar sentiment and says it’s not good enough to find out after the decision is made.
“There is a difference between consultation and meaningful consultation,” Chief Brake explains.
“DFO usually responds with a “but we sent you an email”; I just don’t think that’s good enough; we need to be a part of the discussions and decisions when they are being made,” she adds.
Qalipu a member of Groundfish Advisory Committee – DFO
In a written statement to Ku’ku’kwes News, the regional DFO office for Newfoundland and Labrador stated that the Qalipu First Nation is a member of the 2+3KLMNO Groundfish Advisory Committee (GAC), which is the formal channel for sharing recommendations and perspectives on the management of northern cod.
“In addition to the regular annual GAC meeting, prior to the 2024 Northern Cod decision, all members of the GAC were invited to attend a special meeting specifically to hear perspectives and recommendations on access and allocation should the Northern Cod moratorium be lifted,” a DFO spokesperson said in a written statement.
Chief Brake says the fisheries on the island is at the core of their identity.
“Saltwater air is everything to us, and marine ecosystem is everything to us; it’s gone far too long,” Chief Brake says.
“Outside draggers have come in and taken and taken, leaving us with nothing; we are forgetting about our small community fisherman who have had a livelihood on this their whole life.”
