We’re thrilled to celebrate a wonderful victory today: the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has just announced that prawn harvesters will be allowed to continue to tub and freeze their catch at sea for the foreseeable future.
As you know (or, if you don’t, check out our blog from December!), nearly one year ago the Department of Fisheries and Oceans suddenly re-interpreted the Fisheries General Regulation to make the over-50-year-old practice of freezing spot prawn tails at sea illegal. Thousands of signatures were collected on petitions, and over 5 hours of Emergency Sessions in the House of Commons were dedicated to the issue. And back in December, we told you that DFO announced a proposal to implement an unrealistic package size that would triple plastic waste and drive up costs, making prawn tubbing nearly impossible for harvesters.
You signed petitions, you wrote letters, and you called your MPs. And just this morning, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans announced that tubbing and freezing prawns at sea in our typical 1 lb containers will be permitted for this season and beyond. We are so humbled by the support from our members! Your efforts prove that democracy works and that when you stand up for something you believe in, governments DO listen. You should be so proud of the direct positive impact you’re having on the livelihoods of fishing families on the west coast.
We’re reassured by the fact that Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray made this decision not even one month into her new job. We’re hopeful that this announcement might usher in a new era where the government listens to all stakeholders and makes decisions in a spirit of true consultation and collaboration, prioritizing food security and protecting a fishing way of life in our coastal communities alongside conservation and reconciliation objectives.
