It’s not just anglers who will be affected by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) 2018 salmon management plan for Newfoundland and Labrador.
Businesses in Corner Brook that cater to the fishery are being left with the uncertainty of a season that some say won’t start on time, only allows the retention of one fish and could be shutdown altogether depending on the results of a mid-season review.
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“I don’t know what to tell you,” said Paul Barnes, owner of Barnes Sporting Goods, when asked how the situation will affect him.
He said there’s been no licences printed because DFO keeps changing their minds. He said the department is going to put people out of work.
"There’s just no sense to it at all, none.”
Barnes said it’s a waiting game and it’s the same thing with the recreational cod fishery.
“They can tell us that we’re going to have a moose licence in six months, but they can’t tell us that we can go cod fishing in two-week’s time.”
He said it’s affecting tour operators who can’t book clients until they know the dates and no one is going to buy the equipment until details on the season are released.
Now with salmon, he’s stuck with more gear that might not sell.
“What’s hurting my business is not knowing. Not knowing what to do,” said Barnes.
Dominic Brennan, manager of Good Buddy Sports, also said it’s too early to tell what’s going to happen. He said the store's stock was ordered eight months ago and has already arrived.
The order was based on last year’s sales and because of that the store brought in a significant amount of stock.
If there isn't enough stock ordered Brennan said he takes a risk he will sell out and it could hurt business. Given the limits on the upcoming season, Brennan has some concern gear will sit on the shelves.
“Everyday you’re concerned in business,” he said. “As much as it would be nice if everything went ahead, preservation counts too.”
