Tom Hedderson and officials of the provincial Department of Fisheries were conspicuous by their absence at the Fisheries Symposium hosted last week by the Bonavista Area Chamber of Commerce.
And some are not impressed.
"It's absolutely disgraceful," says local fisherman Hedley Butler.
"To have a meeting of this importance and the Minister of Fishery not bother to attend is ridiculous. It shows what he thinks of the fishery. Not only did he stay away, he didn't even bother to send his Deputy Minister or anyone at all from his department.
"Our MHA, Roger Fitzgerald, wasn't here either. The lack of interest shown by the provincial government, when there are so many problems today in the fishery, is just not good enough," charges Butler.
Fitzgerald's constituency assistant, Tyler Butt, did attend and heard that Butler's view was shared and voiced by many of the participants during the day-long symposium in Bonavista. The event, in the planning for months, was expected to bring representatives of everyone involved in the fishery together, with Minister Hedderson originally scheduled as one of the main speakers.
On the eve of the symposium, Hedderson did speak at a special Chamber of Commerce Dinner in Bonavista.
During his 45-minute speech, he barely broached the subject of the fishery.
Hedderson is currently serving as Acting Minister of Municipal Affairs, and he spoke at length about municipal infrastructure spending and roadwork.
He did note 2009 has been a difficult year for the shrimp industry in particular.
"As a government, we're often accused of turning our backs on rural Newfoundland, turning our backs on the fishery," he said.
Following his speech, Hedderson told the Packet he had cabinet meetings scheduled for the next day, and therefore could not attend the symposium in person.
He explained that no deputy minister or departmental representative would be in attendance either, because "It's the kind of thing where people want to hear from the Minister."
Federal representation
There may have been no presentations from the provincial government, but the federal government was represented with scientist Dr. George Lilly, retired from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), and John Collins, DFO Regional director of Policy and Economics, as guest presenters. Also making presentations were fisherman Albert Johnson, and Dave Decker, Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW).
Scott Simms, Liberal Member of Parliament for Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls, was one of the first speakers at the symposium.
Looking around the room, the MP said it was obvious there were some very knowledgeable and informed individuals in attendance, who had played a major role in the fishing industry over the years.
During his five and a half years as member of Parliament for Bonavista-Gander-Grand Falls-Windsor, Simms says it appears to him that the fishing industry is an industry that is always in a crisis.
"I am at a loss to explain why.
"Year after year there are many species of fish, be it groundfish, pelagic or shellfish. Yet, year after year, the communities of Newfoundland and Labrador, that rely on the fishery for their existence, are struggling to survive."
He says it defies logic that the majority of the raw materials such as crab, shrimp and other species are shipped overseas to countries like China and Korea for primary processing, when most of it can and should be done in the province.
Simms noted how the Bonavista Peninsula, prior to the Northern cod moratorium relied heavily on cod for its economic well being. Back then, the Port Union plant employed upwards of 1,200-1,300 people, while the Bonavista plant had between 600-700 workers. All were making a good living from the fishery.
In addition there were hundreds of small boats with two, three and four crew members also making a decent livelihood, Simms added, noting families were happy and vibrant and the communities were surviving.
"Today it is the opposite story; communities that have no other economic engine other than the fishery are struggling to survive.
"Over the past few years and more recently, people in fishing communities such as Grand Bruit on the South Coast and others have been relocated to larger centres.
"The question we all need to ask is why?" says Simms.
The MP said he didn't come to the Symposium with the answers to those questions. However, he was hoping by the end of the day that collectively, everyone would have a sense of what needs to be done to make the fishery industry on the Bonavista Peninsula vibrant once again.
"I'm a realist so I don't say that lightly, but I firmly believe as do the people who depend on the fishery for their economic well being, that managed properly, the shellfish and ground fish industry in conjunction with other species can provide a good living for our people.
"I am looking forward as the day unfolds, to hearing from people who are in the know with respect to the ever evolving issues surrounding the fishing industry."
