Labrador Fishermen's Union Shrimp Co. Ltd. ads

Last week’s decision shows exactly how the North continues to be treated: as a source of value to be extracted, not a region to be invested in. Northern Cod is rebuilding off Labrador’s coast. Southern Labrador has the harvesters, workers, vessels, plants, and markets ready to turn that resource into jobs, exports, and long-term community benefit. And still, LabShrimp was denied meaningful offshore access while two private companies in the south were handed 100% of the increased offshore benefit. If Canada is serious about strengthening the North, supporting coastal communities, building food security, growing exports, and reducing dependence on public support, then Labrador cannot be cut out of the resource rebuilding off its own coast. #AdjacencyMatters

Minister Thompson made substantial increases to offshore Cod access, but kept 100% of the benefits going to the same two island-based companies who get 94% of the offshore quota. How is that fair? Nobody in government can claim they don’t understand the need for a balanced inshore + offshore fishery. That reality is already the plan for Newfoundland’s cod fishery, so why is Labrador left out? We have the vessels. We have the plants. We have the workers. We have the harvesters. We have the markets. And still, we were denied a fair opportunity to put our capacity to work. Make it make sense. #AdjacencyMatters

Judging from last week’s decision, the federal government has chosen economic uncertainty for 20+ Labrador communities over self-reliance. If decisions like this continue, where is the opportunity for Southern Labrador supposed to come from? For nearly 50 years, Southern Labrador harvesters have built a fishery economy that reinvests 100% of profits back into our communities. That model has created jobs, supported families, built processing capacity, developed export markets, and helped Labrador communities remain economically independent. But despite our adjacency, capacity, and direct dependence on the fishery, LabShrimp was denied meaningful offshore access. Why are our communities worth the risk? #AdjacencyMatters

Last week’s decision to expand offshore access while handing 100% of the benefits to two island-based processors is unfathomable. Instead of giving our people a meaningful role in the rebuilding fishery, the federal government chose to leave Labrador out in the cold (as always). The vision shown by the Honourable Roméo LeBlanc and others helped create a model that kept people working, supported harvesters, built processing capacity, developed export markets, and reinvested 100% of profits back into Labrador communities. That vision is now at risk. #AdjacencyMatters

Minister Thompson doubled the offshore share of Northern Cod and more than tripled the catch for existing offshore participants—while cutting Labrador’s coastal communities out completely. The increased offshore benefit is now flowing elsewhere, worth more than $100 million to two island-based processors. How do you explain that? #AdjacencyMatters

Nearly 50 years ago, federal leadership helped Southern Labrador build a self-reliant fishery economy around adjacent shrimp resources. The vision shown by Romeo LeBlanc and others has helped Southern Labrador remain economically independent for nearly five decades. Now the fishery is changing again, and the question is whether today’s decision-makers will show the same foresight: giving Southern Labrador a fair opportunity to transition, adapt, and build the next 50 years around the resource adjacent to our communities. LabShrimp is not asking for special treatment. We are asking for fair access to help protect a model that has already proven what adjacency can make possible. #AdjacencyMatters Joanne Thompson Philip Earle Fisheries and Oceans Canada / Pêches et Océans Canada