David Boyd of Twillingate pulled no punches when it came to DFO's incredibly insensitive tweet on the morning that Fiona slammed into Newfoundland southwest coast/Eastern Canada, describing it in a letter to The Telegram as an example of "systemic incompetence."
DFO's initial tweet was issued on the morning that Fiona pounded into Newfoundland's southwest coast/eastern Canada. DFO later deleted the tweet, and issued an apology.
There's no doubt DFO has an attitude problem.
That attitude has been front and centre with mackerel.
DFO hasn't bothered to explain its March decision to slap a moratorium on the Atlantic mackerel fishery when the waters off the northeast coast in recent weeks have been alive with unprecedented schools of the fish.
The fact that DFO hasn't explained itself reveals its distance from/arrogance toward the fishermen it serves.
There are other examples, of course, including DFO management plans that are only released days before the opening of a fishery, and the department's failure for years to address vessel-length restrictions despite safety concerns.
In the case of DFO bureaucracy, the attitude really is "let them eat cake" because beached lobster are off limits.
Ryan Cleary,
Executive Director, SEA-NL
Seaward Enterprises Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (SEA-NL) is a professional, non-profit organization serving as the distinct voice for licensed, independent owner-operator inshore fish harvesters. You can read more about SEA-NL, and join us here.