Canada decides not to support bottom trawling moratorium

[Rovik]

It's unbelievable. Canada and it's Conservative govt. doesn't support a bottom trawling moratorium which would protect fish from what "some critics have likened it to bulldozing the ocean floor." (quoted line from CTV article)

This flies right in the face of what Canada has done in the past in trying to protect marine life.

Countries such as the US, UK, Australia and others support this is moratorium and even George Bush is for it.

From the CTV article: Canada won't support bottom trawling moratorium

Canada will not support a halt of bottom trawling in international waters despite calls from a group of countries, including the U.S., that are pushing for a moratorium...

...Along with the United States, the following nations support the moratorium in international waters: Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Norway and Brazil.

U.S. President George Bush called upon the international community to end "destructive fishing practices, such as unregulated bottom trawling on the high seas."

And any of you who disagree with Bush must be anti-American because that is what some of the right wingers here have said when people have disagreed with American policy before.

[geoffrey]

Just like the Japanese with their whales, I'm sure Greenpeace will start their vandalism soon. Being said, I don't see the point in such a practice, besides providing a few Newfies with jobs. What kind of seafood do we get from bottom trawling that we can't get otherwise??

[watching&waiting]

Now just how does one enforce such a law in international waters? Who can be there to say that the nets are scraping the bottom, and just how will we prove such a thing. It is all well and good to say we say it is not a good thing and we will tell you to stop. But I can not see it getting any results. As it said in the article that there has to be a better way.

Also the big thing in this was said in the line about we allow this pratice to take place in our own domestic waters, so how can we condemn it in international waters. Seems to be a lot of saber rattling in todays news. I guess they just can not find a story and so they trawl the bottom for one

Oh and yes I can not let this go by without a comment, since this story is about the harmful affects of trawling the bottom, maybe we should just ask the liberals for their expertise, as they are the top bootom trawlers here in Canada.

[Rovik]

Just like the Japanese with their whales, I'm sure Greenpeace will start their vandalism soon. Being said, I don't see the point in such a practice, besides providing a few Newfies with jobs. What kind of seafood do we get from bottom trawling that we can't get otherwise??

This practice by the deep sea trawlers provides few jobs in Newfoundland. And in fact, most Newfoundlanders are against it.

By the way, I don't know if you are aware of this but many Newfoundlanders (including myself) consider the term "Newfie" as demeaning and derogatory.

[Rovik]

Now just how does one enforce such a law in international waters? Who can be there to say that the nets are scraping the bottom, and just how will we prove such a thing. It is all well and good to say we say it is not a good thing and we will tell you to stop. But I can not see it getting any results. As it said in the article that there has to be a better way.

Also the big thing in this was said in the line about we allow this pratice to take place in our own domestic waters, so how can we condemn it in international waters. Seems to be a lot of saber rattling in todays news. I guess they just can not find a story and so they trawl the bottom for one

Oh and yes I can not let this go by without a comment, since this story is about the harmful affects of trawling the bottom, maybe we should just ask the liberals for their expertise, as they are the top bootom trawlers here in Canada.

I agree that the practice should be banned in both domestic and international waters.

It's a fairly big story here in Newfoundland and the last I checked we are still part of Canada. Hearn, when he was in opposition, was big on the protection of marine life advocating such things as custodial management of the Grand Banks amongst other things but since he has become the Fisheries minister, nothing has changed.

The sad state of the fishery today is indeed the fault of the Liberals but also the Conservatives who have had power at different times since Confederation with Canada in 1949. Both have mismanaged the resource badly and things don't seem to be changing with this govt.

[Leader Circle]

Most of the Newfies were big Liberal supporters even when they closed the fishery, because it meant more handouts, so they could stay home and drink. They didn't seem to care then(even voted in the ex-fisheries minster Tobin, who was the main character in the closure!), why would they care now. Most of them want to keep it closed in hopes the gov't will keep the dole coming! Hey Rov, throw on your costume & head out a mummering early, it would be more productive!

The plain facts are this.... The Liberal government knew in the 70's if they opened up the fishery anymore than it was, it would cause a complete disaster as in Norway. They did not heed the advice of many conservationalists back then and issued more licenses than they could find paper for, in hopes of decimating the industry. They did this for one main reason, to control the income of the self employed fishermen and bring in the quota system to give it all to the big businesses that they already had in their pockets and give the Newfs $350/week to stay at home.

To be standing there now and scream at the current government for sins of the LIberals is silly. Put out all the moratoriums you want, do you think Spain cares?

[Leader Circle]

Just like the Japanese with their whales, I'm sure Greenpeace will start their vandalism soon. Being said, I don't see the point in such a practice, besides providing a few Newfies with jobs. What kind of seafood do we get from bottom trawling that we can't get otherwise??

This practice by the deep sea trawlers provides few jobs in Newfoundland. And in fact, most Newfoundlanders are against it.

By the way, I don't know if you are aware of this but many Newfoundlanders (including myself) consider the term "Newfie" as demeaning and derogatory.

I know lots of Newfies and not one of them is hurt by the term "newfie". You would be the first.

Should we call you the PC term "Irish-Canadian"?

[Rovik]

I know lots of Newfies and not one of them is hurt by the term "newfie". You would be the first.

Should we call you the PC term "Irish-Canadian"?

I'm sure 100% of all Newfoundlanders don't believe it has negative meaning but many do.

From article in Wikipedia: Newfie

Usage as a derogatory term

The terms "Newf" or "Newfie" are considered derogatory by many Newfoundlanders. Newfoundlanders are of different views as to whether the term "Newf" is as derogatory as the term "Newfie." As with many ethnic groups saddled with pejorative terms, many Newfoundlanders use the terms to refer to themselves or to each other, and in this context they are less offensive than when used by non-Newfoundlanders.

The word "Newfie" is associated with "Newfie jokes", typical Canadian ethnic jokes told and retold since the days of the bankruptcy of the Dominion of Newfoundland government during the Great Depression. The jokes almost always depict Newfoundlanders as stupid, lazy or both. Many such jokes are identical to ethnic jokes that are used to put down other groups.

In March 2006, an Edmonton police officer was disciplined for using the word Newphie [sic] to describe the apprehension of an individual.[1] This explicitly derogatory usage is particularly prevalent in locations (such as northern Alberta) where large numbers of Newfoundlanders have migrated for economic opportunities.

[geoffrey]

I know lots of Newfies and not one of them is hurt by the term "newfie". You would be the first.

Should we call you the PC term "Irish-Canadian"?

Yup, this is pretty rare, I think it might be like those gangsters calling each other niggers but getting upset when a white guy says it... anyways... Newfies are a special breed of Irish-Canadian though, I'm Irish-Canadian (among other things), and I'm far from culturally like a Newfie. I think they need protected status, maybe our next GG should come from Newfoundland (I'd actually be highly favourable to that).

I'm sure he finds that Nissan X-trail commercial quite offensive too... Rovik, you should take Nissan to the Human Rights Tribunal, stand up for your minority rights!

Check out the commerical here:

This racism and discrimination is an outrage in our free and democratic country.

--

Back on topic, if it doesn't provide jobs or good food, let's stop it.

But if I have less access to seafood than I already do living in the land of no water, then I'm opposed.

[Higgly]

...maybe our next GG should come from Newfoundland (I'd actually be highly favourable to that).

Following the recent trend to pick media types, I'm sure Rex Murphy would love the job. It would be fun to watch him sitting on the throne biting his tongue. He would certainly be a force to be reckoned with.

[geoffrey]

...maybe our next GG should come from Newfoundland (I'd actually be highly favourable to that).

Following the recent trend to pick media types, I'm sure Rex Murphy would love the job. It would be fun to watch him sitting on the throne biting his tongue. He would certainly be a force to be reckoned with.

I was thinking Rick Hillier after he steps down.

Murphy is too annoying to have to listen to daily.

[Rovik]

Yup, this is pretty rare, I think it might be like those gangsters calling each other niggers but getting upset when a white guy says it... anyways... Newfies are a special breed of Irish-Canadian though, I'm Irish-Canadian (among other things), and I'm far from culturally like a Newfie. I think they need protected status, maybe our next GG should come from Newfoundland (I'd actually be highly favourable to that).

I'm sure he finds that Nissan X-trail commercial quite offensive too... Rovik, you should take Nissan to the Human Rights Tribunal, stand up for your minority rights!

Check out the commerical here:

This racism and discrimination is an outrage in our free and democratic country.

Actually, that ad has caused some controvsery here in Newfoundland, a lot of people don't like it and some believe it should be taken off the air.

This is not a minority rights issue. It doesn't matter if Newfoundlanders made up the majority of citizens in Canada. It's the principle and i'm sure no one likes to be put down or ridiculed.

If someone asks me not to use a certain term because they believe it is offensive, then out of respect I won't use that term. The last thing I would do is to respond in a sarcastic and frivilous way.

[Leader Circle]

...maybe our next GG should come from Newfoundland (I'd actually be highly favourable to that).

Following the recent trend to pick media types, I'm sure Rex Murphy would love the job. It would be fun to watch him sitting on the throne biting his tongue. He would certainly be a force to be reckoned with.

I was thinking Rick Hillier after he steps down.

Murphy is too annoying to have to listen to daily.

I was thinking Rick Mercer for GG.

Lets look at his qualifications....

He works for the CBC...check

He was born in a foreign country(almost...before Newfoundland joined confederation)...check

He is most likely a Liberal (Most Newfies are)....check

He has a good sense of humor and probably knows who the Queen is....check

Strikes against him.

He is not a woman(At least he doesn't seem to be)

He is not married to a separatist or any member of the FLQ.(That I know of...is he married?)

He sometimes seems somewhat neutral politically....likes to pick on everyone!

All in all I think he should be our next GG.

[Leader Circle]

Yup, this is pretty rare, I think it might be like those gangsters calling each other niggers but getting upset when a white guy says it... anyways... Newfies are a special breed of Irish-Canadian though, I'm Irish-Canadian (among other things), and I'm far from culturally like a Newfie. I think they need protected status, maybe our next GG should come from Newfoundland (I'd actually be highly favourable to that).

I'm sure he finds that Nissan X-trail commercial quite offensive too... Rovik, you should take Nissan to the Human Rights Tribunal, stand up for your minority rights!

Check out the commerical here:

This racism and discrimination is an outrage in our free and democratic country.

Actually, that ad has caused some controvsery here in Newfoundland, a lot of people don't like it and some believe it should be taken off the air.

This is not a minority rights issue. It doesn't matter if Newfoundlanders made up the majority of citizens in Canada. It's the principle and i'm sure no one likes to be put down or ridiculed.

If someone asks me not to use a certain term because they believe it is offensive, then out of respect I won't use that term. The last thing I would do is to respond in a sarcastic and frivilous way.

"

I remember hearing about a peeler bar in "Fort McMisery(as the Chronicle Herald reporter calls it), that advertised their bar as "Drunken Newfie Approved"!

There was a complete uproar, mainly because they have a Newfie mayor and many of those same Newfies came to Fort Mac in the early 70's and have outgrown the "drunken" days!

Needless to say, Showgirls pulled their advertising and hauled their horns in fast.

I guess not all things about Newfies make them laugh!

[geoffrey]

Actually, that ad has caused some controvsery here in Newfoundland, a lot of people don't like it and some believe it should be taken off the air.

This is not a minority rights issue. It doesn't matter if Newfoundlanders made up the majority of citizens in Canada. It's the principle and i'm sure no one likes to be put down or ridiculed.

If someone asks me not to use a certain term because they believe it is offensive, then out of respect I won't use that term. The last thing I would do is to respond in a sarcastic and frivilous way.

So all those jokes about redneck Albertans are all wrong? I just simply take them in stride, it's a joke. Deal with it. I have Newfie relatives (unbelievable eh?) and they don't care about Newfie comments and thought the commerical was quite funny.

I think some are just over sensitive. It's not like it's an exaggeration, there are Newfies that do talk like that.

[Rovik]

So all those jokes about redneck Albertans are all wrong? I just simply take them in stride, it's a joke. Deal with it. I have Newfie relatives (unbelievable eh?) and they don't care about Newfie comments and thought the commerical was quite funny.

I think some are just over sensitive. It's not like it's an exaggeration, there are Newfies that do talk like that.

I have never used the term"redneck" and if people from Alberta believe it's derogatory, then yes, I will not use that term out of respect.

There are many Newfoundlanders who believe that "Newfie" is derogatory. Personally, I have friends who have worked away and been victim of the locals using that term in a "not-so-nice" way..(phrases like "stupid newf" or "where's your rubber boots newfie") Ask your Newfoundland relatives if there are people here who don't like the term if you don't believe me.

[rover1]

Well, really, so far as I know it is just a term, not my term, that some use to describe Newfoundlanders. To a degree, some affection is included in it, but for most it is just a term like Canuck or whatever. I admire Newfoundlanders all in all, and I see nothing wrong with it. It is true that some people have a way of using any name like this in an insulting way, but it seems to me, that is more to them, than to the term itself. as for Newf, I have never heard it used.