In 1993, the Fish Harvesters’ Resource Centre was established to develop a network of harvester-based resource centres that would serve the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The centres were established as a non-profit organization and governed by a board of directors.

 

The FRC has office locations in three regions across the province.  These locations are St. John's (Main Office), Port aux Choix (Dockside Monitoring Office) and Twillingate (Dockside Monitoring Office Seasonal).

 

The objectives and mandate of the FRC have changed since its inception in 1993. The FRC's main business lines currently involve dockside monitoring, gear tag supplier, and logbook supplier.

 

The FRC is a Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) certified dockside monitoring company. The FRC has a mandate to provide the Newfoundland and Labrador fishing industry with a comprehensive Dockside Monitoring Program (DMP) in partnership with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). The FRC monitors all major groundfish, shellfish and pelagic fisheries in Newfoundland and Labrador fishing areas. This mandatory program is funded entirely by fish harvesters and is an essential element of the province’s fisheries management regime. The program also helps foster the economic viability of the fishing industry and, by extension, the sustainability of rural communities.

 

The FRC is also a DFO designated gear tag supplier and logbook supplier. The FRC provides gear tags for the lobster fishery and gillnet fisheries for cod, turbot, lumpfish, and other groundfish.