On the northernmost tip of Newfoundland, fishermen have seen nothing but diminishing returns. Lobster could save these small communities — if only officials would listen, and act.
Feeling forgotten, aging fishermen in northern Newfoundland are looking to lobster for economic salvation
Since 2022, Carl Hedderson has been quietly but diligently advocating to the federal government to issue new lobster permits so he and the other fishermen in the area can both assess and access the lobster stock, and save a way of life that Hedderson says will die with his generation. Vince Blake prepares the fish for the cooler on Carl Hedderson's boat.
Small boat inshore fishermen have been fishing for small quantities of cod for years, as the stewardship fishery started in 2006. Carl Hedderson said fish harvesters in his area are barely scraping by. He hopes something changes so his children can fish on the same wharf as Hedderson's father and grandfather.Carl Hedderson said they currently fish small quantities of halibut, cod and lump roe, but other licences like sea snail whelk are useless as they cannot find a buyer for their catch.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans allocates lobster licences in Newfoundland and Labrador. Hedderson and others in 14C say they need more than the five currently allocated, given others in similar areas have more 100. Hedderson has been taking politicians out on the water — including Member of Parliament Gudie Hutchings — to pitch his plan, and he thought they were close to getting action on the issue, but when an announcement about new lobster permits came, it wasn’t for them.announced 25 new exploratory permits for lobster in Quebec’s North Shore.
Down a gravel road, past roadside vegetable gardens and wood piles, the community of North Boat Harbour sits on the edge of the ocean. He surmises why their calls for lobster are not being answered: maybe it’s because they’re about as far away from St. John’s as you can get, or maybe it’s that they haven’t crashed a news conference. Vince Blake is one of the crew on Carl Hedderson's boat. Hedderson hopes to have his crew out fishing lobster as the climate changes causing more lobster to congregate in the area.
“It’s time for somebody to come in and take it serious, come in have a sensible meeting and say we're going to do whatever we can to do something for you guys,” said Carl Hedderson.“My son would love to be fishing, but from what I got here, he sees the misery I goes through and all the rest of small boat fishermen there, and he just can't do it.”
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