Saturday, December 19, 2009

The Cod are Back! (But it's not ours anymore)



Portuguese Minister Antonio Serrano announced the renewal of fleet access to Canadian waters. (Photo: MARM)



Some 13 vessels of the Portugal fleet will once again operate in Canadian waters and fish 1,070 tonnes of cod as of next year, thanks to the re-opening of an area administered by the North West Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO).

“After 11 years [of the zone being closed], we recovered the quota of NAFO cod,” said Portuguese Fisheries Minister Antonio Serrano.

The Portuguese boats set to work in NAFO waters have an average capacity of 900 tonnes of fish.

Apparently the Cod are back - and anyone but the Newfoundlander and Labradorian can have it. Gail Shaea was quick to dispute that. Apparently Canada's Fishery Minister and the Portuguese Fishery Minister have a different take on things. They both seem happy enough though.

When Portuguese Cod fillets show up in Sobeys Gail Shea will be the first to get her fee and chee. So we may not be able to fish for our own cod, but maybe the white fleet will come ashore and buy a bottle of bakeapple jam or a wooden outhouse ornament - so at least we have that.

R.I.P The Fighting Newfoundlander

2 comments:

BayGirl said...

If what you say in this post is fact, that is absolutely disgusting.

BornandBred said...

It is disgusting. Plain and simple. I think this is an example of something that has happened many times in our past. Trading Newfoundland and Labradors fish for interests in central Canada. Deals with the EU that will promote the car plants in Ontario. Unfortunately there is never a paper trail but look at this example. The smiling Portuguese are getting a windfall of a cod quota - after years of not fishing. Why?