ST. JOHN’S, Newfoundland and Labrador, July 10, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- An Oceana Canada marine scientist who has been on the beach at key capelin roll locations in and around St. John’s for the past few days will be available later this week to speak about Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)’s recent decision to continue allowing commercial overfishing of critically depleted capelin.
Jack Daly, marine scientist for Oceana Canada, can speak about the dangers of maintaining the existing harvest quota and how DFO’s decision to allow commercial overfishing of the critically depleted stock fails to protect this small but vitally important species. It also fails the communities and industries that rely on it throughout Newfoundland and Labrador and beyond.
Oceana Canada experts, along with crowds of visitors and locals, have been gathering at rocky beaches and coves throughout the Avalon Peninsula to witness and commemorate what is often hailed as one of the most captivating natural spawning phenomena in the world. This week, Oceana Canada will also meet with government officials to share concerns about the lack of transparency by DFO on how the decision was made, considering that it neglects DFO’s own science and policy.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY DETAILS:
| DATE | Wednesday, July 12 to Friday, July 14, 2023 |
| LOCATION | Various locations in and around St. John’s and the Avalon Peninsula |
| AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT | Jack Daly, Marine Scientist at Oceana Canada |
| MORE | Read more about Oceana Canada’s reaction to DFO’s decision on the commercial capelin fishery quota for the 2023 season here. Read more about Oceana Canada’s survey that found that most Newfoundlanders and Labradorians support pausing the capelin fishery to rebuild it here. |
For more information, or to arrange an interview please contact:
Angela Pinzon, Pilot PMR, angela.pinzon@pilotpmr.com, 647-295-0517 or Vaishali Dassani, Oceana Canada, vdassani@oceana.ca, 647-294-3335.
About Oceana Canada’s Capelin Work
Oceana Canada has been working to protect capelin abundance for several years, publishing reports on the importance of capelin and forage fish to the marine environment in Newfoundland and Labrador and raising awareness of the unhealthy state of this vitally important but depleted population. For the past three years, Oceana Canada actively participated in the capelin science advisory and advisory committee process. Oceana Canada also worked to elevate local voices and concerns regarding this fishery, perspectives that are shut out of the government-run and industry-dominated advisory process. 2023 has been a momentous year for capelin, with the stock officially recognized by the government as in the critical zone for the first time in two decades.
About Oceana Canada
Oceana Canada was established as an independent charity in 2015 and is part of the largest international advocacy group dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana Canada has successfully campaigned to ban single-use plastics, end the shark fin trade, make rebuilding depleted fish populations the law, improve the way fisheries are managed and protect marine habitat. We work with civil society, academics, fishers, Indigenous Peoples and the federal government to return Canada’s formerly vibrant oceans to health and abundance. By restoring Canada’s oceans, we can strengthen our communities, reap greater economic and nutritional benefits and protect our future. Find out more about Oceana Canada at oceana.ca. Twitter: @OceanaCAN
