ST. JOHN’S, NL —The FFAW/CAW says the provincial government has all the information it needs in hand and that it needs to move quickly towards fulfilling the promise to provide assistance to those who have been hardest hit during the 2009 fishing season.

 FFAW/CAW leaders and members met with Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Tom Hedderson and officials from the Departments of Human Resources, Labour and Employment (HRLE) and Municipal and Provincial Affairs (MAPA) in early August to make a case for emergency assistance for people struggling as a result of depressed seafood markets.

 At that time, the FFAW agreed it would do the work necessary to identify the extent of the problem. That work included conducting meetings and canvassing members throughout the province.

 “On Aug. 7, the province told us that the information was needed so that a proposal could be put before cabinet for funding to help out those facing the worst struggles,” said FFAW Secretary-Treasurer David Decker. “On Aug. 17 we completed a monumental task in a very short period of time when we delivered all the information they wanted. We identified in excess of 1,000 harvesters as part of this process alone — and that doesn’t include the hundreds of plantworkers we have in three particular plants that have also been identified — as needing immediate help.

 “The province has had this information for several weeks now.  This is a matter of serious urgency and all we are asking is that the process move forward. This year has been devastating to say the least and people desperately need answers — time is running out quickly.”

 Decker said significant price declines in several fisheries, reduced landings in others and the overall increase in expenses has created significant and widespread hardship for people in rural communities who look to the industry for a livelihood. He noted that the lobster, cod and lump fisheries were particularly disappointing, and that earnings for harvesters and plantworkers in the shrimp fishery were well below those in recent years.

 “People cannot afford to sit and wait — they need their government to recognize the severity of this situation and the desperation being faced in rural communities if steps are not taken immediately,” Decker said,

He added that, while the recent MOU signed between the FFAW, processors and government might serve to address some of the longer-term issues in the fishery, the short-term issues at this stage cannot be ignored

“People are experiencing incredible hardships — now that government has all the information they need, we urge them to get this emergency funding proposal before the provincial cabinet so the hard working men and women in this industry can have some answers,” Decker said.