Petition for Fair and Safe Access to the Newfoundland and Labrador Food Fishery

Supporting fair, safe access to Newfoundland and Labrador’s Food Fishery while respecting conservation, food security, and our coastal traditions.

We, the undersigned, call on the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister responsible for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), to provide residents of Newfoundland and Labrador’s South and West Coasts with the same seven-day Food Fishery access available in other regions.Conservation and safety can coexist.
Food fishers on the South and West Coasts face the same weather, sea conditions, work schedules, and family responsibilities as fishers elsewhere in the province. Restricting access to designated fishing days can force people to choose between fishing in unsafe conditions or missing their opportunity to participate.
A seven-day season would allow fishers to make safe, responsible decisions based on weather and personal circumstances while continuing to follow DFO conservation measures and catch limits.The Food Fishery is an important part of Newfoundland and Labrador’s culture, traditions, food security, and way of way of life. Equal access across regions promotes fairness and supports safe, responsible participation.
We urge Minister Joanne Thompson and DFO to immediately correct this unfair disparity by extending seven-day Food Fishery access to the South and West Coasts. Residents of these regions should not be subjected to restrictions that place them at a clear disadvantage or force them to compromise their safety.

DFO must act without delay to ensure that South and West Coast residents receive the same fair and safe access already granted elsewhere in the province. Equal treatment is a matter of fairness, safety, and respect for the people and traditions of Newfoundland and Labrador. We call on the Minister and DFO to take decisive action now and guarantee that all food fishers have the equal access they deserve.