Small lobster

2009-04-09 11:29:20

A Terrance Bay man has been fined 2 thousand dollars for having undersized lobsters aboard his vessel last November.  Forty-eight year old Kevin George Slaunwhite pled guilty  saying it was not intentional, but rather his son was not properly measuring the crustaceans.  Fishery Officers boarded Slaunwhite's vessel in Terrance Bay last November 29th and found 14 undersized lobsters in three crates.  The Crown agreed the smaller lobsters were not segregated and it was more a case of inaccurate measuring than a deliberate attempt to violate the fishery regulations.  Two of the undersized lobsters seized as evidence were forfeited to the Crown.

Critic criticism

06:20am

Shelburne's MLA is getting blasted by the Fisheries Minister for what is being described as the final exam in hypocrisy.
Ron Chisolm chastises Sterling Belliveau for saying he was extremely happy for fishermen who will benefit from the MacDonald government's plan for a new fishery license loan program.
Chisolm is asking the NDP member to explain why he voted against the fisheries loan program in the first place when it was part of last year's budget.
The new license loan program, introduced in the 2008-2009 budget will help young people get into the commercial fishery and current license holders wanting to buy licenses for new species get access to financial capital. 

Fisheries Loan

2009-03-27 05:53

Shelburne MLA Sterling Belliveau, the NDP's Fisheries Critic says he's pleased Nova Scotia fishermen will finally have an opportunity to apply for loans to help secure Commercial Fishing Licences.  The new program was announced yesterday and comes into effect April 1st.  Belliveau, a former fisherman himself says when first elected the issue was one of his top priorities and committments to the people of Shelburne and to all fishermen across Nova Scotia.
Belliveau says he's glad the Minister listened to the fishermen and has spread the loan period over 20 years. It makes the program very attractive and beneficial to fishermen and  provides an opportunity for young people to get into the fishery, which will be instrumental to the future of the industry.