The day the fishery died (http://thechronicleherald.ca/thenovascotian/112801-the-day-the-fishery-died)

http://thechronicleherald.ca/sites/default/files/imagecache/ch_article_main_image/articles/fishery.JPG (http://thechronicleherald.ca/thenovascotian/112801-the-day-the-fishery-died)

The infamous cod moratorium imposed by the Canadian government was to come into effect on July 2, 1992, putting an end to the inshore cod fishery and a 500-year-old economic activity that was the basis of Newfoundland culture and society.

It put an estimated 30,000 people out of work and escalated the exodus of people from rural Newfoundland. It was the single largest layoff off of workers in Canadian history. Some social scientists say more than 70,000 people have left the bays, coves and outports of the province since.

A few nights before in a St. John’s hotel ballroom, the iconic Newfound*land MP and cabinet minister John Crosbie delivered the news to reporters while angry fishermen pounded on locked doors trying to get into the room. Crosbie had to be escorted from the building by dozens of police officers. It was the closest the city has come to a riot since 1932 when prime minister Sir Richard Squires ran for his life from protesters at the Colonia Building.When we talk about fishermen in Newfoundland we usually are referring to the individuals and their families who caught fish in season from small 35-foot boats along the coast in cod traps and, at one time, jiggers and handlines using passive fishing tech*niques.

In today’s environmental parlance it would be called a sustainable economic activity. It was not possible to overfish in the inshore fishery.

The Newfoundland fishery was not the factory freezer trawlers of multinational fish companies that work 24-7, 365 days of the year dragging massive nets through the ocean vacuuming up every living creature and rendering the ocean floor uninhabitable.

It was these floating fish factories owned by Canadian, Spanish and Portuguese corporations (plus other EU countries) that fished the northern cod to the brink of extinction before moving on to do the same with other species in South America and West Africa.

(Halifax Chronicle-Herald (http://thechronicleherald.ca/thenovascotian/112801-the-day-the-fishery-died))

....and some signs that a possible recovery is underway... but still long-off....

recent research indicates the cod are living longer and getting bigger, thanks mainly to warmer water temperatures.

"In particular, this year we're seeing evidence that a lot of the real negative signs in the cod stocks that have been with us for 20 years are turning around," Rose said in an interview Friday.

"Biologically, ecologically we're seeing a major shift back to a system that will eventually become dominated by capelin (a staple of the cod diet) and cod. ... I think we are seeing the beginnings of a recovery now."

(TheProvince (http://www.theprovince.com/news/national/recovery+Newfoundland+finally+evident+years+after+ moratorium/6866069/story.html))

funny you posted this.. I just finished watching CBC the last two nights with Rex's special on Newfoundland..
From the loss of fishing and then the riches of oil..
it was very interesting and informative to watch.

funny you posted this.. I just finished watching CBC the last two nights with Rex's special on Newfoundland..
From the loss of fishing and then the riches of oil..
it was very interesting and informative to watch.

Yes, Rex Murphy had a great two part series on this infamous anniversary event. Those were hard days for many here in NL. With 30,000 suddenly out of work, it was like most of the auto industry suddenly closing down in parts of ON. That would have made a similar impact upon ON's economy. Luckily, off-shore oil has helped bring us from a have-not to a have province.

Paix, mon ami.

watching the special also made me want to visit NL LOL...
also what I found amazing was tourism, which amounts to the population of NL - visit the rock yearly.. absolutely fascinating fact.

Now if we can figure out how to get some of those tourists to the rest of atlantic Canada, specifically PEI. :)

watching the special also made me want to visit NL LOL...
also what I found amazing was tourism, which amounts to the population of NL - visit the rock yearly.. absolutely fascinating fact.

Now if we can figure out how to get some of those tourists to the rest of atlantic Canada, specifically PEI. :)

Yes, I was amazed by that fact as well. Each year, dozens upon dozens of RV caravans from all over North America come here. Many drive out to Cape Spear to say that they stood on the furthest easterly point in North America.

PEI is the only province in Canada that I have not visited.

Paix, mon ami.

Yes, I was amazed by that fact as well. Each year, dozens upon dozens of RV caravans from all over North America come here. Many drive out to Cape Spear to say that they stood on the furthest easterly point in North America.

PEI is the only province in Canada that I have not visited.

Paix, mon ami.

PEI has some management issues.. its losing its flare for tourism.. Downtown is pretty much empty buildings and in favour of Ontario style strip malls out in the burbs.. [ to me that is not tourist friendly or an Atlantic feel. ] They need to advertise like Newfoundland does and push the whole heritage things. It is working for you guys.

I would love to visit Newfoundland myself with the family.. Rex's special and the commercial you have going - got me hook line and sinker. ;)

wife cracked a joke.. would you live in Newfoundland?.. I said why not? look at those mansions they have I am sure it is less than half of what they cost in Ontario. :) [ plus family friendly lifestyle too ] - my wife gave me the typical atlantic answer.. no, why do you think I left . I want the big city.. amazing.. People from Ontario want out from the big city and those from the coast want out from the small city..

PEI has some management issues.. its losing its flare for tourism..

Funny - all I ever heard about PEI tourism was "Anne of Green Gables" and the Chinese / Japanese fascination with her - are they not still coming in droves? (Mark does a quick Google search): Hmmm... seems things aren't as dire as in previous years:

One in four visitors to Prince Edward Island takes in at least one Anne attraction, such as the recreated fictional town of Avonlea, the site of Montgomery's childhood home or the Anne of Green Gables gift shop on the main street of the provincial capital Charlottetown.

After farming and fishing, tourism is the island's third-largest industry, and Anne-related spending accounted for nearly one-third of the island's $370 million in tourism revenue in 2010 - up dramatically from previous years (China Daily (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-08/13/content_13105102.htm))

...and do I remember correctly that in China or Japan recently they opened a village replica of Anne of Green Gable's home?

I would love to visit Newfoundland myself with the family.

Do it. Do it now! :) I spent a year working on the east coast, near Bonavista peninsula. Amazing people, gorgeous landscapes, wicked food. Just be extra-careful on the highways (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKH3LwiEEtk).

watching the special also made me want to visit NL LOL...
also what I found amazing was tourism, which amounts to the population of NL - visit the rock yearly.. absolutely fascinating fact.

Now if we can figure out how to get some of those tourists to the rest of atlantic Canada, specifically PEI. :)

Always wanted to go to NL to hike and sea-kayak and just enjoy the scenery. I want to go there but it seems not the rest of my family. Took my family many times to the east coast and enjoyed all the provinces (except NL). I agree with Macintosh Doctor about PEI, such a beautiful province yet with some real bad tourist spots. I would have to say next to the scenery of all of the Eastern provinces is the ice cream and bakeries. Scotsburn ice cream, droool! Cow Licks ice cream, drooool. Cape Breton had the best bakeries, smack , smack!
Ooops back to the topic, even the cod fish I had was great! By the way I'm not a fan of fish so that's how good it was.

Well Asian tourists can not keep PEI a float.. after visiting the grave site and anne of green gables out in cavendish then seeing the musical downtown Charlottetown and scooping up some COWs ice cream at the factory - which all of these things are spread every where your done..

PEI in the early 90s was happening with the Charlottetown festival and downtown had Stores .. now it is a grave resemblance ... [the bridge made it worse - more people leaving to shop then coming }
kinda back to the topic.. deep sea fishing.. its fun but not really kid friendly.. up at 6 AM out on the waters for 4 hours and then back..afternoon or evening fishing not recommending, unless you like heaving. LOL [ makes for great photographs ]

I have to agree the East Coast is nice till August 31st then it is boarded up ( really do mean that ) till May... [ I have spend lots of time out east.. I really hate the winters unless you like to shovel. LOL }

PEI has some management issues.. its losing its flare for tourism.. Downtown is pretty much empty buildings and in favour of Ontario style strip malls out in the burbs.. [ to me that is not tourist friendly or an Atlantic feel. ] They need to advertise like Newfoundland does and push the whole heritage things. It is working for you guys.

I would love to visit Newfoundland myself with the family.. Rex's special and the commercial you have going - got me hook line and sinker. ;)

wife cracked a joke.. would you live in Newfoundland?.. I said why not? look at those mansions they have I am sure it is less than half of what they cost in Ontario. :) [ plus family friendly lifestyle too ] - my wife gave me the typical atlantic answer.. no, why do you think I left . I want the big city.. amazing.. People from Ontario want out from the big city and those from the coast want out from the small city..

Well, finally more people are moving in to the city of St.John's and surrounding areas, as well as the province of NL, than are leaving. I am from New York City, so even Toronto is somewhat small in my view. My wife is from Calgary so St.John's is small to her.

We bought our house, which is about 3500 square feet, back in 1996 for $160,000. Had it appraised last week, and it came in just over $600,000. Insane. Still, our house is paid off and we are able to retire (I hope) in a couple of years. We shall see.

Paix, mon ami.

Do it. Do it now! :) I spent a year working on the east coast, near Bonavista peninsula. Amazing people, gorgeous landscapes, wicked food. Just be extra-careful on the highways (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKH3LwiEEtk).

Hey, there have been moose in my front yard in the past couple of years, CM. :eek:

Always wanted to go to NL to hike and sea-kayak and just enjoy the scenery. I want to go there but it seems not the rest of my family. Took my family many times to the east coast and enjoyed all the provinces (except NL). I agree with Macintosh Doctor about PEI, such a beautiful province yet with some real bad tourist spots. I would have to say next to the scenery of all of the Eastern provinces is the ice cream and bakeries. Scotsburn ice cream, droool! Cow Licks ice cream, drooool. Cape Breton had the best bakeries, smack , smack!
Ooops back to the topic, even the cod fish I had was great! By the way I'm not a fan of fish so that's how good it was.

JC, my wife and I like urban hiking. The trail runs about 200 meters near my house so we pick it up there .............. and could take it all the way to the edge of North America (Cape Spear). Sea-kayakers come for the trips to see ice bergs and humpback whales up close.

Paix, mon ami.

Well, finally more people are moving in to the city of St.John's and surrounding areas, as well as the province of NL, than are leaving. I am from New York City, so even Toronto is somewhat small in my view. My wife is from Calgary so St.John's is small to her.

We bought our house, which is about 3500 square feet, back in 1996 for $160,000. Had it appraised last week, and it came in just over $600,000. Insane. Still, our house is paid off and we are able to retire (I hope) in a couple of years. We shall see.

Paix, mon ami.
you are such a newyorker snob LOL
wow, $600Gs.. well that blows my idea of moving out east with my Big time Toronto money HA HA .. you just shattered my hopes of retiring in a place I can afford. ;)
[looks like I am doomed to PEI as no one wants to live there, So homes are affordable HA HA HA ]

you are such a newyorker snob LOL
wow, $600Gs.. well that blows my idea of moving out east with my Big time Toronto money HA HA .. you just shattered my hopes of retiring in a place I can afford. ;)
[looks like I am doomed to PEI as no one wants to live there, So homes are affordable HA HA HA ]

Hey, I grew up poor in NYC and lived in a 3 1/2 room apartment house, so when I bought my first 1100 square foot home here in St.John's, I thought I was a king. Sadly, what is driving up prices here in St.John's is oil money from AB, either Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who are earning money there and using it here, or engineers from AB's oil companies being sent here from Calgary to work on the off-shore projects. On my salary right now I could not afford to buy my own home. Some houses in my area are on the market but way overpriced at $775,000 to $995,000. That is not a realistic price. Homes from $350,000-$600,000 are selling well, but there is a limit. We never went through a housing bubble like there are now in TO and Vancouver. There is never a rush to buy here in the St.John's area, so prices just slowly grow. If you want to live in rural NL, the homes there are huge compared to mine and can be had for $100,000 to $200,000.

Still, we will use the equity in the home when we sell it in a few years to downsize and maybe move out of St.John's. We shall see.

Town of St. Anthony - (http://www.town.stanthony.nf.ca/Saltwater_Joys.php)

A classic NL song.

JC, my wife and I like urban hiking. The trail runs about 200 meters near my house so we pick it up there .............. and could take it all the way to the edge of North America (Cape Spear). Sea-kayakers come for the trips to see ice bergs and humpback whales up close.
Paix, mon ami.
Awe man that sounds awesome. I saw pictures like you had just described at a NL tourism booth at an Outdoor show one year, just breath taking. I have sea-kayaked with a guided tour of the eastern seaboard of NS a few years back and it was great. People we didn't know on the shores offered us beer and fresh water (even dinner), just great hospitality especially from a few who were definitely not well off.
This is what I really like about the east coast provinces, the people and the outdoors. Oh and the food!

From personal experience, I can tell you there is nothing on earth like standing on the shore, watching icebergs float by, and listening to whales breaching (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_surfacing_behaviour)...

HYR8ZGpp1l4

...and here's a nice Newfoundland Tourism ad for 2012:

Y4_czY2fPgw

...man, did we ever derail this thread.... :o

From personal experience, I can tell you there is nothing on earth like standing on the shore, watching icebergs float by, and listening to whales breaching (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_surfacing_behaviour)...

HYR8ZGpp1l4

...and here's a nice Newfoundland Tourism ad for 2012:

Y4_czY2fPgw

...man, did we ever derail this thread.... :o
I don't think so, in a way we are trying to look at the brighter side of the eastern provinces despite the demise of the fishery industry. By the way I'm packing up now for NL after see the promo video. Rats, my wife caught me!

Awe man that sounds awesome. I saw pictures like you had just described at a NL tourism booth at an Outdoor show one year, just breath taking. I have sea-kayaked with a guided tour of the eastern seaboard of NS a few years back and it was great. People we didn't know on the shores offered us beer and fresh water (even dinner), just great hospitality especially from a few who were definitely not well off.
This is what I really like about the east coast provinces, the people and the outdoors. Oh and the food!

Here is Cape Spear, which is about 14km from my house as the crow would fly. From there, all of North America is behind you.

I don't think so, in a way we are trying to look at the brighter side of the eastern provinces despite the demise of the fishery industry. By the way I'm packing up now for NL after see the promo video. Rats, my wife caught me!

I agree with JC. We still have some sorts of fish left, snow crab, lobsters, etc, along with oil and friendly people ................ and great scenery.