Commercial fisherman alarmed by lack of amenities in Prince Rupert harbour
Commercial fisherman Joel Collier was shocked when he docked in Prince Rupert this past summer, seeking a shower and shops to restock on supplies, only to find that many of the services and businesses he expected had disappeared.
The sign, dated June 6, went on to explain, “Access to salmon opportunities have decreased and the company has reduced full-time staff in P.R. At the same time rising costs for maintaining the services and continued abuse of the facilities have forced us to discontinue offering these services.”They operate out of Courtney, B.C., but have both fished in the north, using P.R. as a hub, for many years — Joel, since he was six years old.
Joel’s cousin’s boat has its own shower facilities that he was able to go back and use, but many vessels that work and operate out of P.R. do not, Melissa said. The seafood processing company was not expecting much of a fishing season this year and the washroom facilities had become costly because they were vandalized in previous years, he said. Canfisco also had fewer management staff at the plant to give fishermen access to the laundry machines, so the decision was made to close them.It wasn’t just the lack of showers and laundry though, Joel saw changes further into the city.
“When you have a healthy fishing community and a healthy fishing economy, it feeds back into the community and a lot of the money and the resources that come from that employment stays within the coastal communities… there’s a lot of local businesses that benefit from having fishermen in the community and fishermen spending money in the community,” Melissa said.
While this might be true for recreational fishermen, Joel’s experiences show it is becoming less true for commercial fishers, said Melissa.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Terrace couple’s ‘dream home’ at risk of sliding into Kitsumkalum River – Terrace StandardTerraceBC couple’s ‘dream home’ at risk of sliding into Kitsumkalum River
Read more »
Rotting sockeye salmon dumped along Fraser River signals ‘rampant’ illegal sales – Terrace StandardB.C. Wildlife Federation says the dumping involves thousands, possibly tens of thousands of fish
Read more »
‘A stalwart’: World mourns Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II – Terrace StandardFlags being ordered flown at half-staff from Washington to Ghana
Read more »
B.C.’s Assistant Deputy Attorney General defends justice system amid criticism – Terrace StandardPeter Juk wrote a seven-page letter outlining what he says are “real facts” about B.C.’s justice system
Read more »
BREAKING: The Queen, longest-reigning monarch in British history, dies at 96 – Terrace StandardBREAKING: The Queen, longest-reigning monarch in British history, dies at 96
Read more »