Turbot Closure

Turbot Closure

Fishermen blocked the harbour Tuesday to protest the early closure of the turbot fishery.
Approximately two dozen fishermen stood on the wharf in Cow Head, after putting a rope across the harbour to prevent any boats from leaving or entering the wharf.
On Monday, the DFO announced the turbot fishery would close for vessels less than 19.8 m (65 ft.) based in western Newfoundland would close at 8 p.m. Tuesday evening.
The DFO also stated within the announcement, the reason why the turbot was closing was because of the high bycatch of the Halibut.
“Fishermen said without the turbot fishery they wouldn't be able to make ends meet, and half of their quota is still in the water.”
The union representing our province’s fisherman was supposed to meet with the DFO to deal with the inadequate halibut quota.
“David Decker, spokesman for the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union, said the department needs to deal with an unfair sharing of the halibut quota between Newfoundland and Quebec, and a failure to free up halibut quota that has been set aside for bycatch for cod and redfish fisheries.
"The halibut resource has been rebounding significantly. This has been documented by science. There is strong recruitment. And in addition to that we can free up halibut quota assigned to non-existent fisheries," Decker said in a statement.”
There are about 100 vessels are involved in the turbot fishery, which means a lot of these people could become unemployed.
DFO also stated fishing gear had to be removed from the water by 8 p.m. but the fishermen alleged they were planning to continue their protest.
In my opinion, I think the fishery should stay open, because they decided to close the cod fishery on us, all our dependence was based on the cod and we lost it all. The turbot fishery should be ours because of that, and plus hardly anybody fishes halibut.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2008/06/10/turbot-protest.html