Fisheries Niches and Environment at Environnement Canada Canada , Ids. (No.o. ge Cr.) buR- bud (AA,. r ANNUAL REPORT 1977 t.ht Risk I <TN k4 OCi 4 191b LIBRAiri BURIN-BONAVISTA AREA FISHING & INDUSTRY SERVICES FISHERIES MANAGEMENT DEPT. OF FISHERIES AND ENVIRONMENT GRAND BANK, NEWFOUNDLAND Fisheries and Environment Canada Newfoundland Region Fishing and Industry Services - L Burin-Bonavista Area t Annual Report 1977 72' 71' 70' 69' Et' 60' — 59' 5 19 . Cocsti,ne 20 loth. — 30 loth ------ 50 foth. 57' tO0 foth 150 lath 200 loth 1200 1012 5E' — I 2H 55. L 54 . r 53q-- 2J L 2 •• 51' 3K 3L tv-c hi. 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 in this Area on a regular basis. Following are reports from Inspection and Technology, Fishermen's Assistance Plans, Conservation and Protection and Economics Serviceste This is our first joint effort and we hope it serves to portray our involvement and give an indication of fishing activities in the Burin-Bonavista Area G. W. Snow, Area Manager Inspection and Technology Branch Inspection District Burin-Bonavista Area twa I -): •f• i0_....2..,,,.. ,...- ( - - ;‘,-17.-_-:_.:---.:"..-.6---7--i07-1,,,•_:,., ) _ 1 ----:._ "Tli:,-,---r. ,--,.. - i' -it- e•:..-... 1 k tj :.4 •, r A r.:-..r.., • 3 -- .t; -1. , . .(11 rr 7.,-.1- 1 ;.,„r 4;;;;;. ••.-i...4:....-74. . ",... - -4 • "--'-•-.4"' 1 ,,,-,. ... .;,• h ")!... f ". /\ I t • t , _ F:... / . - 4. • ,_, ---1!-. ,........, • ,?/ 1 ,., r./...;--.2.:::, s • , i z , ....,,i +,-1:&....t:_. i,,. .-?' ....., f -,...<= , i_ 1,- rv-m ,--,- ' , - i/-4 - _.,.•. ... * 'ci i• • _ t.:...., ., 1,..-„, i i: - I .; . :•i i _,..,...:........y{,:....-y{, , .. -- -----...;,-.4.- ::..-;. i ,.:,;- . • I ' 4 --e 2, ".- -------. r".- ,r- L • - ....- , - ----__ •-:7:- .2 e"-• '.''.- ' • ,r.....1 ..•••••- 4; .-. .!.. ---- '''-• r:::-..:-7 1..;.;;....:,/- , " A- ....., -4,-7 *C-.4_. •• "; *------• / -. .,--”,_-;"*"" " ,;-....-1 .1 (.. - .....-f-`5 -_-!- ...„."2.-- ....."‘" 1 • .•z .."•■ Fes- • --- ct Ta was , •74 ",■-• • -a. 2 er7:.4 r„: • - - i fly C.77i17: - t•"-• -,'•••••1 t;41 "; • • '1,:;;Y71'.':'"f:.,..1,7.1 r•-.77r5-' ANNUAL REPORT 1977 INSPECTION DISTRICT 2 INTRODUCTION The annual report of Area II Inspection District as presented, covers all Area Inspection activities for the year 1977. As in the past, the General Section of the Report is a preface designed to introduce the main body of the report. The main body is composed of three distinct sections prepared and presented by the sub-district supervisors and officers on the Burin and Bonavista Peninsula's and by the Laboratory Supervisor. As the District Inspection Officer, having arrived in Grand Bank during the last week of October, 1977, my input into the report must be minimal. In this light, the 1977 annual report is in fact, a field report compiled by Area II Inspection Officers and Supervisors and as such, it gives me great pleasure to present it to the Area Manager, Mr. Gordon Snow, as an integral part of the Area 2 Annual Report. F.H. Allen INDEX INTRODUCTION GENERAL 1 INSPECTION LABORATORY ACTIVITIES 5 BURIN PENINSULA SUB-DISTRICT 7 BONAVISTA PENINSULA SUB-DISTRICT- 20 PERSONNEL APPENDIX A DISTRICT BOUNDARIES APPENDIX 84 REGISTERED PLANTS APPENDIX C GENERAL Generally, the overall objectives of the Inspection and Technology Branch, Newfoundland Region, are necessarily those of each District Inspection operation as well; with but slight changes reflecting minor differences between areas. In this regard, the inspection activities as carried out by field officers in Area 2 during 1977, ensured that it was indeed, a very busy year; with the major emphasis of our activities directed towards a prime objective, that being, to ensure that only top quality fishery products were produced and exported from Area 2 during the year and to assist in the advancement of the fishing industry within our assigned area, of operation. (Map - Appendix B ). District Inspection Personnel were greatly involved with plant and product inspections with particular emphasis spent on the Groundfish Subsidy Program. The majority of areas directly pursuing the fishery on both the Burin and Bonavista Peninsulas enjoyed what must be termed an excellent fishery which in turn meant increased surveillance on our part at all landing ports, aboard vessels and at the plants, with some emphasis put on dockside grading. However, the cod trap fishery on the Bonavista Peninsula was considered very poor as very few cod followed the capelin bait inshore during the short trap season. No major problems were encountered in carrying out inspection programs on the Burin/Bonavista Peninsulas during 1977, however, the cod glut problem was evidenced last year as in recent years and has all the appearances of being a continuing problem, for which an answer must be found. Ground transportation of fish from landing sites to processing plants was another problem encountered during the 1977 season which must be tackled during 1978. /2 Page 2 In 19771ishing activity was again slightly curtailed in the first quarter but only for a very short time by the dispute between the trawlermen and the Companies regarding safety on-board vessels and an increase in the allowance per sea day. On January 23, 1977, both sides agreed to what was considered a satisfactory settlement and a day later the first trawlers were on their way to the fishing grounds; putting to sea approximately three weeks late. As has been the case in recent years, the offshore fleets experienced good returns during the first three months of operation and the short delay in the start of the 1977 fishing season had little effect on the industry as a whole. All processing establishments were again surveyed in the fall as a registration requirement and plant managers were written as to deficiencies in their respective plants; with the exception of a small saltfish operation on the Burin Peninsula which did not quite meet registration requirements and which was only in operation for a brief period during 1977, all plants were registered for 1978. (List Appendix C). As has always been the case, the bulk of the year-round activity in Area II is centered on the Burin Peninsula because of its heavy concentration of offshore trawlers and the four major fresh and frozen plants for which they fish. The Bonavista Peninsula hovever, has one major year round fresh and frozen plant supported by an offshore trawler operation which keeps inspection busy, with the remainder of the industry being