(June 14, 2022) – Craig Pardy, PC Shadow Minister of Fisheries and MHA Bonavista, says it’s time for the Federal Government to take steps to protect fish stocks and address the overpopulation of seals in the waters near our province.

Pardy is calling on Provincial Fisheries Minister Derrick Bragg, Federal Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray, and the 6 Liberal Newfoundland and Labrador Members of Parliament to unanimously support M.P. Clifford Small’s Private Member’s Motion on Bill C-251 on the Conservation of Fish Stocks and Management of Pinnipeds Act in the House of Commons.

“In Atlantic Canada, science says that seals consume 24 times the total commercial yearly catch. Norwegian science suggests seals consume double that amount. Seal populations in Atlantic Canada total over 10 million; less than fifty years ago, that figure was less than two million. Seals now live in our estuaries and are waiting to clean out what is left of our struggling Atlantic Salmon,” said Pardy.

“As M.P. Small stated in the House of Commons, the seals don’t eat Mary Brown’s. They eat fish. Members of our coastal communities are relying on their Federal Members of Parliament to take action immediately to restore the biodiversity of our oceans, restoring a culture and way-of-life, while also bringing this ecological disaster to an end.”

Pardy is calling on Minister Bragg and the six Liberal Members of Parliament to put party politics aside and stand in solidarity with M.P. Clifford Small by publicly supporting Bill C-251 for the greater good of coastal communities across Newfoundland and Labrador.

“The people of Newfoundland and Labrador see the impact that seals have on our fisheries every single day. This bill, if passed, would provide a long-term conservation opportunity to sustainably rebuild the valuable, renewable, green resource that is our fishery. Now is the time to stick together and support a bill that is in the best interests of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” said Pardy.

“It is my hope that our 6 Liberal Members of Parliament and Minister Joyce Murray will stand in solidarity with M.P. Small and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. I encourage all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to write their Federal M.P. and encourage them to support this bill.”

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Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca