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speakup

Dear editor:

Local inshore fisherman are angry with DFO for having a major change in closure to certain areas of our fishing grounds within the herring fishery 2008 regulations that causes fisherman stress to their livelihoods and a possible danger to their lives as well as their helpers. Through the winter, there were secret meetings going on and no fishermen knew about this until last week, when fishery officers came with maps and the news. A new herring season is approaching and it only lasts for a week or two. Fisherman are forced not only to have a decrease in nets but are not allowed to go to areas they have been since the early days of their fathers before them. Nets now have to be taken out of the water on Saturday 12:00 h until Sunday 12:00 h. Our once daily catch is now considered the weekly catch. Dockside monitoring is no longer in New Mills but fisherman have to call in three hours prior and travel with our little flats to Dalhousie, Carleton, Petit Rocher, or Miller Brook, whichever one is closest to them, with boatloads of herring if they want to sell their product.

Over the last two years net amounts have already been decreased about 40 per cent and each year a few days before the season opens fishermen are given a new set of regulations. Licence conditions do not correspond with maps given out by the Fisheries, meaning that designated areas of closure are not even mentioned in those conditions. The Maritime Fishermen's Union have not contacted anyone at this point nor do they seem to be supporting fishermen where they get their yearly dues from. We are only a hand full of fishermen in this region and it seems like there is no representation for them.

The areas of closure that are affected are from Dickie Cove which includes Black Point, to Point la Roche in upper Black Lands right across to Heron Island and also behind Heron Island in this area. Fishermen were told that this is because they now consider them spawning areas but if one didn't know better herring will also spawn in deep waters if they have to and where herring are born they usually go back to those areas. In the fall in this area fishermen also can't fish herring because there is a quota and it is caught down shore before we even think about putting nets into the water. Herring is used for lobster bait and if there is plenty of it here it's sold to other areas where there is no bait. The spin-off works well and has for many years. The fishermen want this back to last years rules and leave it alone.

It is not changes to our little flat loads that is going to make a difference but if those recommendations were made to the big seiners and herring trawlers fishermen in this area would understand closure to them here completely. Governments on both the federal and provincial level have been connected with and hope they will act upon this immediately as our season is now open and time is the essence.

Layne Godin

Lorne