B.C. fishing industry upset over pending announcement of marine protection area
VANCOUVER — The federal government’s decision to ban all fishing in some marine protected areas off Canada’s west coast threatens the livelihoods of hundreds of Canadians and ignores years of discussions with the fishing industry, says the country’s largest commercial fishermen’s association.
Jim McIsaac, the Pacific vice-president of the Canadian Independent Fish Harvesters’ Federation, said that an anticipated marine-conservation announcement by the Fisheries Department will hurt jobs and raise seafood prices.
“We’ve been sold down the road,” McIsaac said on Wednesday, calling the move both extreme and unnecessary.
“We’re more than disappointed,” he added. “These are people’s lives. These are people’s livelihoods.”