DFO orders 'hard pill to swallow' for N.B. lobster fishermen, union says

Lobster fishermen off the coast of Miscou Island, N.B., will spend Sunday morning hauling gear from the waters in order to comply with the latest fishing zone closures imposed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

On Friday afternoon, theDFOre-opened four areas previously closed to fishing due to the presence of right whales. But with more closures being imposed on Sunday,frustrations continue to mount.

The federal fisheries minister met with representatives of the Maritime Fisherman's Union in Monctonon Friday.

Lobster fishermen were hoping Ottawa might ease some of the measures for protecting right whales, but minister Dominic LeBlancwasn't budging.

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"If we don't take robust, science-based, coherent measures to protect these highly endangered North Atlantic right whales, we're really playing Russian roulette with the entire future of the Canadian fish and seafood industry," LeBlanc said.

At least six closures have been announcedthis spring season, so far. In response, hundreds of New Brunswick fishermen attended a rally this week inprotest.

DuringFriday's meeting, LeBlancand fisherman discussed whether there was sufficient data to show thatright whales are, in fact, approaching shallow waters.

While there wasn't any data specific to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, LeBlancsaidthere is"reliable scientific data" from the United Statesthat shows females and calves do go into shallow water for "considerable periods of time" to follow their food sources.

"The idea that we could have kept a certain portion of shallow water open, in my view, was not responsible," LeBlanc added."It wasn't a risk I was prepared to take."

'We just don't agree'

Carl Allen, president of the Maritime Fishermen's Union, organized the most recent protest and met with LeBlanc on Friday. He disagreed with the closures and said he was disappointed that fishermen aren't being listened to.

"I have a lot of respect for Minister LeBlanc, but we just don't agree with the basis of the whole plan it's a hard pill to swallow," he said.

LeBlancdidoffer the fishermen an alternative, however.

He offered apaid training program for crew membersand plant workers affected by these closures.

The program would allow workers to learnnew skills over several weeks as a way to make up for lost revenueand help them qualify for employment insurance.

LeBlancalso suggested the government could organize a limited fisherynear the end of September for the roughly 60 licensed owners and crews affected by the current closures.

"I will offer every single one of those licence holders an opportunity to replace the revenue in the fall," LeBlanc said.

The Maritime Fishermen's Union is taking the two offers back to its fishermen before it gives Ottawa an answer.

Allen said fishermen would be"reluctant" to accept.

"My concern iswhat are we training them to do? It has to be fisheriesrelatedbecause the last thing I want to do is go train deckhands to find work elsewhere," he said.

The fishermen's union will talk to its membersover the weekend. In the areas affected by the latest closures off the coast of Miscou, traps have to be out of the water by noon on Sunday.