Cape Breton halibut fishermen want to meet minister

A protest by Cape Breton halibut fishermen at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans office in Sydney is into its second week as they demand a meeting with the federal minister over future halibut quotas.

About 25 fishermen protested outside the DFO office Monday.

"We want a equal share of future quota," Danny Usifer, vice-president of the North of Smokey- Inverness South Fishermen's Association, said.

He said it's not fair that fishermen in his region get only two per cent of future halibut quota in the Scotia-Fundy region.

The fishermen in the association have to divide 37 tonnes of halibut among more than 400 license holders, Usifer said.

"In other areas, they have haddock fisheries, cusk fisheries, hake fisheries and we don't have any of that here. So, they got us tied to the wharf," he said.

"But now we see that the halibut is coming back in plentiful, plentiful amounts and we are not given that opportunity to have that harvest."

Usifer said a fair share of the halibut quota would mean a lot to rural areas.

"If we did have a little bit more quota, an equal share on increases, it would mean a lot to rural communities and put some money and people to work here instead of having people move out to Alberta to go to work," he said.

Bernie MacDonald listened as three local Tory MLAs explained they support the fishermen and will try to set up a meeting.

MacDonald has been fishing for 35 years. He said a lot of young fishermen, like his son, are in the same boatpaying big bills. He said a larger halibut quota could help them.

"He's got two kids, he's got a mortgage, he's got a boat to pay for and you just can't do it," MacDonald said of his son.

"It's going to come to the point where all these young fishermen are going to have to leave and go out west because we are not allowed to go out and catch a resource that's right on our doorstep."

The fishermen said they want a meeting now.

"Without that commitment of a face-to-face meeting, we will continue to protest," Usifer said.

The fishermen also protested outside the office in December.