Fisheries Niches and Environment at Environnement Canada

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ANNUAL REPORT

1977

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BURIN-BONAVISTA AREA FISHING & INDUSTRY SERVICES FISHERIES MANAGEMENT DEPT. OF FISHERIES AND ENVIRONMENT , Fisheries and Environment Canada

Newfoundland Region

Fishing and Industry Services -

L Burin-Bonavista Area

t Annual Report

1977 72' 71' 70' 69' Et'

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4T ; ; • , ■ 4: IN a •,, -• .. • . . I - ■ ••• I • During 1977 the Area Management Organization with headquarters at Grand Bank, was established in the Burin-Bonavista Area, one of four such areas in the Newfoundland Region. Field operations under the Area Manager includes Bait Service, Economics Services, Conservation and Protection, Fishermen's Assistance Plans and Inspection and Technology. In addition close liaison is given other Branches of the Department plus outside agencies which may be involved with fisheries planning and development. With the advent of sub-district offices on both Peninsulas for Conservation and Protection and Inspection and Technology, the organization of the Area is now decentralized. It is anticipated that more authority can be levied in those offices in the near future. An Area Management Committee consisting of District Protection Officer, District Inspection Officer, Area Representative FAP, and Statistical Officer meet as required to discuss items of current interest and concern; these meetings are chaired by the Area Manager. Contacts have been made with all fishermen's committees amd development organizations in the Area plus resource people from Provincial Departments and Memorial University. Many items in the field involving fishermen and groups are now being dealt with locally or items for Regional consideration are channelled through for appropriate attention. This sort of liaison will continue and expand. Generally the fishery in this Area is developing rapidly and expanding in various sectors. More emphasis is going into the inshore operations resulting in increased numbers of fishermen and vessels Expansion of processing capability began in four establishments during - 2

the year and plans have begun to take advantage of fish species not now processed. Fishermen's Union Trading Company discontinued salted fish processing operations and the plant is still idle'. Mifflen Fisheries had a good year of salted fish production and another salted fish feeder plant was opened in Baine Hr. The herring

fishery remained lucrative and the squid fishery became a very important part of earnings in both the harvesting and processing

sectors especially on the Bonavista Peninsula. Approximately 2500 fishermen and 2600 plant workers participated in the industry. Companies paid out over $25,000,000 locally during the year. Many of these plant workers and fishermen have year-round employment at establishments served by offshore vessels. Many inshore fishermen also extended their season especially in relation to squid catches. The higher fish prices and increased hourly wages for plant workers led to greater earnings by both fishermen and plant employees. Fish products moved regularly to markets indicating consistently good conditions in the marketplace. The Atlantic Coast Groundfish Management Plan for 1977 served as the guideline for offshore fishing vessels. With a few changes the plan worked reasonably well and served to spread out the resource throughout the year among the Atlantic fleet, forty-five of which land

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