NS LIBERAL RESPONSE: Provincial Election Questionnaire

August 10, 2021

NS LIBERAL RESPONSE - UNITED FISHERIES CONSERVATION ALLIANCE

Thank you for your questions. Please read below for our response.

1. Do you believe the excessive localized fishing pressure introduced by the launch of unregulated moderate livelihood fisheries has the potential to have a harmful effect on the conservation of stocks?

Conservation must be the paramount issue as the federal government plans for a moderate livelihood fishery. The Nova Scotia Liberal Party believes that any unregulated fishery could have a harmful affect on the conservation of stock.

2. Do you believe it is essential that every community, association, and fisher in the Atlantic fishery, whether they be Indigenous or non-Indigenous, abide by the science-based rules and regulations that have been established by DFO to ensure the conservation and proper management of our fisheries for future generations?

Yes, we strongly believe that all decisions must be made on science-based rules. As regulated by DFO, it is their responsibility to ensure continued appropriate conservation and management of our fisheries.

3. Do you believe that fish caught in unregulated moderate livelihood fisheries operating outside the science-based rules and regulations that have been established by DFO should be exempt from the provincial rules related to the buying, processing, or selling of fish?

The regulations outline that the only purchases that can be legitimately made are those through DFO recognized, licensed, and in-season, harvests. It is not permitted to buy from anyone outside of season and/or without a license.

4. If elected, do you commit to increasing provincial resources for the enforcement of the rules related to the buying, processing, or selling of fish caught in unregulated moderate livelihood fisheries operating outside of the science-based rules and regulations that have been established by DFO?

Yes, there is room for improvement in enforcement of illegal fish processing, buying, selling. We would continue to engage with our stakeholders to increase enforcement. Presently, anyone who buys illegal, out of seasons, without a licensed and/or not-properly licensed, could be charged, and if convicted, could permanently lose their buying and/or processing license.

To read official NS Liberal response, click here.