Fisheries and Oceans Canada is significantly increasing redfish fishing rights. From 25,000 tonnes, the quotas increase to 60,000 tonnes for the season which begins.
This is excellent news for many shrimp fishermen who will have to turn to other species, the shrimp stock having collapsed in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
However, it remains to distribute fishing rights to companies, a complex process. Shrimp fishermen in the estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence will be entitled to 10% of these quotas, as will indigenous communities.
The distributions remain in the same spirit as what was announced in January, the largest boats (100 feet and more) will have practically 60% of the fishing rights.
It should be noted, however, that the value of fish is below that of shrimp, which does not resolve the situation of shrimpers who have just experienced a catastrophic season, so much so that some Quebec boat captains preferred not to go to sea, because it just wasn’t profitable.
Another challenge, once out of the water, we will have to find a way to promote this fish which has left the plates of Quebecers since the imposition of a moratorium, around thirty years ago.
In interview at The Press Last week, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Diane Lebouthillier, spoke about this challenge of revaluing redfish.
“How are we going to give added value to our products? asked the minister. We’re going to arrive with the redfish, but you know, in life, there are not only fish and chips ! » The minister also wants full use of fish, to avoid food waste.