Fishing season likely to start as planned but adjustments could be made as covid-19 crisis evolves
CARLETON – The commercial fishing season will likely start as planned, for fishermen and fish processing workers. That conclusion comes after an exchange between SPEC and two communication officers (one from the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans and one from Quebec’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food).
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) regulates the aspects related to quotas, fishing gear and the duration of the season (including start and termination dates). Quebec’s department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) deals with fish processing.
Pascale Fortin, spokesperson for DFO, explains that the particular context created by the covid-19 crisis has triggered discussions between the ministry and Quebec’s commercial fisheries’ stakeholders. “The preoccupations and worries of the fisheries stakeholders have been communicated to Minister (Bernadette) Jordan. Amongst those preoccupations, we see the weak state of the markets, the profitability of the enterprises and contamination during fishing and processing operations. For certain fisheries, it was convened with the industry and the Fisheries and Oceans ministry to open as scheduled, notably for seal hunting and snow crab fishing in zone 17,” explains Pascale Fortin,
“At the moment, no other decision has been made in regards to the cancellation or postponement of another type of commercial fishing in Quebec. Minister Jordan is in contact with the provincial ministers of fisheries. Other calls are scheduled with the Quebec fisheries stakeholders tomorrow (March 25),” adds Ms. Fortin, who concedes that things can move pretty quickly.
Zone 17 for snow crab covers the shore between Trois-Pistoles, west of Rimouski, and Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. The crab fishermen will be allowed to set their traps on March 25. Simon Bachand, MAPAQ spokesperson, mentions that “the fisheries are included in the list of essential services issued” by Premier François Legault on March 23 and that “the season can start as planned. All the food processing sector is considered an essential service.” Some of the snow crab caught in the Saint Lawrence River is processed in the Southern Gaspé processing plants.
Look for the Helpers! Talking to Kids about COVID19
Do not forget that the children in your life are also going through this time of COVID19. They hear snippets of adult conversations and news. However, what do they take from this? It may be just enough for them to be scared and confused. Take the opportunity to speak to your child directly and to answer their questions. Talking about it will reassure them.
My daughter and I were chatting the other day and one of us remarked, “We are going to run out of fresh fruit and vegetables.” This was a cause for my 3-year-old granddaughter to worry. She wanted to know why we had no food. We do have food, just low on some fresh stuff, but thanks to online ordering and pickup that is offered by a large grocery store in town we should be ok for most items in the near future. Watch what you say in front of children.
Perhaps it is time to have a sit-down chat with the children in your home. Always keep these kinds of discussions at the child’s level of understanding but you may be surprised at how savvy children are.
Points to cover:
Question: What is going on? Answer: There is a virus that is happening and it is not a good virus. It is like the flu, but can make some people very sick.
Question: Can children get COVID19? Answer: So far, it seems that mostly adults get the virus, especially old people.
Question: Then why are the schools and daycares closed? Answer: A virus can be passed from one person to another person. When you are at school there are a lot of children and adults close to each other. If you are not at school then you and your friends and teachers will hopefully not catch this virus. If someone gets the virus, they can pass it on to many other people.
Question: If somebody gets this virus what happens? Answer: They might have a fever, a cough, feel very tired or have trouble getting their breath. Then it can get more serious.
Question: What can I do so I do not get COVID19? Answer: Wash your hands a lot and really well. Sing the alphabet song, or any song you like while washing. Use lots of soap. If you have no soap, use Purell or any hand sanitizer. If you sneeze or cough use a tissue and put it in the garbage right away. If you have no tissue use the inside of your elbow. Stay home with your family, but if you go out do not stand close to anyone else (except your parents).
Question: When will this be over? When can I go to school? Answer: We don’t know yet, but lots of smart people are working on figuring that out. Everyone wants you to be safe.
You can easily restate the questions and answers. Allow the child to ask questions too. The one thing you might end with is this.
“Look for the helpers. There are lots and lots of people helping us. This includes people who work in stores, police, firefighters and ambulance drivers, nurses and doctors, truck drivers delivering food and medicine to stores, scientists who are working to find a way to stop the virus, people who give us news and tell us what is happening, and kind people who help their neighbours. Of course, your family right here is helping you because we love you and will take care of you.”
Have children (ages 3 to 7) draw some of the helpers. Children (ages 7 to 10) can write a thank you letter to a helper they know.
Parents, the best advice for you is, if at all possible, STAY HOME. That way you have a better chance to stay well so that you can be a helper for your children.