The Member of Parliament for Central Nova says federal officials’ newly-announced fishing industry aid package addresses nearly all the gaps he identified for members of the industry in the face of COVID-19.
Sean Fraser says he understands how hard local fishers would have been hit, and the subsequent effects that would have had in their communities.
He says he wanted them to decide when their season would start.
Fraser told The Hawk Morning Show he listened to their concerns, and brought them forward in the form of recommendations to Bernadette Jordan, the federal fisheries minister.
“I’ve written a letter to the minister about this, (and) included suggestions that the government tackle a few key areas,” he said. “Although the start date remained (May) 15th, I can’t say I feel I wasn’t listened to, because the other measures that I asked to have put in place have, for the most part, been answered.”
Fraser said local fishers, their family members, and their communities could have been devastated by the two-week delay to the start of the season without some sort of help.
He said this aid package is going to bridge the gap during a very hard year.
