Of all the questions that have been raised about FFAW secrecy/conflict of interest in recent months, one of the most shocking discoveries was that the union had proposed a 5 cent a pound ‘levy’ on lobster.   Fish harvesters didn’t know about the FFAW proposal (how unbelievable is that?) until FISH-NL brought it to light in early December, and it was the Seafood Producers of Newfoundland and Labrador who actually killed it (how’s that for the ultimate irony, processors standing up for harvesters — and not their union).  Find details of the FFAW proposal here .  The FFAW argued the 5 cent levy was to cover the union’s “management” of the fishery. To quote the union: “The bulk of the work once conducted by DFO is now being done by the FFAW, with no financial or in-kind support from the processing sector.”  The line between union and management isn’t so much blurred, as obliterated.  How many lobster fishermen were asked their input on a lev...

Reg MacDonald, an inshore fisherman out of Cox’s Cove, Bay of Islands, coined the term Salt-Water Mafia in reference to the FFAW.  Reg figures that between what the union actually got out of him/wanted to get out of him in fees and charges this year, the total adds up to $2,900. Here’s his breakdown: 1) $1,200 for 150 pounds of halibut that DFO cut from each harvester on the island’s west coast this year for quota overrun. At the same time, Reg says the FFAW was given a science quota of 45 tonnes of halibut. Reg figures the FFAW “stole” his fish, and puts the $1,200 down as a loss to the FFAW.  2) $50 fee to register with the Professional Fish Harvesters Certification Board (controlled by the FFAW). 3) $50 paid to the FFAW for 220 lobster trap tags. 4) $300 in FFAW union dues (based on three-months fishing at $25 a week). 5) $200 for dockside monitoring fees (roughly $12 a trip paid to FRC, which is controlled by the FFAW). 6) $200 for hali...

Five foreign trawlers have been issued a total of six citations in recent months for illegal fishing on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, outside Canada’s 200-mile limit.   Sept. 14 : American trawler Alex Marie; cited in port at Trepassey for directed fishing for white hake on the tail of the Grand Banks. The fish was only to be taken as a by catch.  July 21st : American trawler Titan , cited in Louisbourg, N.S. for inaccurate storage plans.  July 7th : Spanish trawler Ana Gandon , boarded at sea on the Flemish Cap and cited for improper storage of redfish.  June 15th : Portuguese trawler Calvao , boarded on the tail of the Grand Banks and cited for misreporting redfish catches.  May 22nd : Spanish trawler Puente Sabaris , boarded on the Flemish Cap, and issued two citations for misreporting redfish catches.  ••• The North Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) monitors fishing on the high seas outside’s Canada’s territorial ...

Make no mistake, this election is rigged, or at the very least abnormally tilted in the FFAW's favour.  The Professional Fish Harvesters Certification Board in St. John's has the definitive list of fish harvesters in the province.  That list will likely be used to determine whether FISH-NL has enough harvesters onside (50% + 1 must sign cards of support) to force a vote.  That vote, to be carried out by the Labour Relations Board, will ultimately decide which union will repres ent harvesters.  As it happens, the FFAW controls the Certification Board (and the list).    ••• The Certification Board's Executive Board of Directors includes: Bill Broderick, chair (Inshore Director, FFAW); George Feltham, secretary (Inshore VP, FFAW); Keith Sullivan, vice-chairperson (FFAW President); Kimberly Penney, member at large (DFO); Mark Dolomount (Ex-Officio).  The Certification Board's office is also located in the basement of the FFAW's multi-millio...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, Nov. 29th, 2016  The Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH-NL) is challenging the FFAW to a public debate on the representation of the province’s fish harvesters. “Fish harvesters deserve answers, honesty, and a clear vision for the future — not yet more FFAW lies and deception,” says Ryan Cleary, president of FISH-NL. “Harvesters do not trust the FFAW, or, as the union is better known these days, the ‘salt-water mafia.’” FFAW members are being told that FISH-NL supports an end to the northern cod stewardship fishery, the demise of fishing EI, and is funded by the offshore sector.  “That’s outright deception,” says Cleary. “The FFAW is about smears and fear mongering, refusing to respond to the legitimate concerns of its membership.” Concerns have been raised over secrecy surrounding revenues from the Fish Harvesters’ Resource Centres (FRC), the union-controlled dock-side monitoring...

I was mailed this note today (Nov. 11th), and the writer asked to remain anonymous. Hi Mr. Cleary, I just wanted to write you to let you know that I and my family support you 100%.  My father is a small-boat, inshore fisherman who has fished since he was eight years old, and had his own boat since he was 16.  My father came from a family of 10 — five boys, five girls. His father was also a fisherman, and two of his brothers currently fish for a living as well. Unfortunately, neither of his brothers have children who fish; I am the only one — the only one of my generation who has followed in the family footsteps.  I have fished with my father every summer since I was 14 years old (I'm now 30). Both my mother and father live off of their fishing income, so as I got older I was forced to seek employment elsewhere in order to make a living.  I currently work as a 4th-year residential electrician, and plan to write my journeyman exam next yea...

HEADLINE: Ryan Cleary and other points of interest The following column was published in the Oct. 27th edition of The Shoreline News. Hassan Yussuff, president of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), is shocked and dismayed by Ryan Cleary’s effort to set up a new fishermen’s union. The CLC has “long been looking to eradicate behaviour such as what you are attempting,” Yussuff told Cleary. The proposed new union was a “raid” on the membership of the FFAW-Unifor, he said, and an attempt “to create a role for yourself as its leader.” Cleary has touched a nerve, I’d say. He is certainly not the only critic to note the longstanding cosy relationship between the FFAW, which was set up a long time ago to protect the interests of fish harvesters, and the federal government, which controls and regulates the fishery. Just how much collaboration between the two bodies has gone on over the decades? And who has benefited from it? Would it not have been better for the fishermen and ...

I gave the following speech on Oct. 27th at the Albatros Hotel in Gander to start the founding convention of the Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH-NL). Salt and pepper refers to the hair colour of most harvesters, who are middle aged or older.  Good morning,  Welcome to the founding convention of the Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador — or FISH-NL.  I ran into a fine crowd in the hotel this morning from Francois on the south coast.  They came a long way to get here — a three-hour boat trip, and then a six-hour drive One of the men in the group told me, “We’d better make this worth his while.” We’ll do our best, you can be assured of that. B’y, I don’t know about you, but I think the name FISH-NL has a real ring to it.  Fish is why we’re here, fish will keep us here.   The Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador ...