The Maritime Fishermen’s Union is an organization that currently represents over 1300 inshore fish harvesters in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
As the largest organization of its kind in Atlantic Canada, the MFU is at the forefront of the fisheries industry – working tirelessly to make a positive impact on the lives of its members, their families and the coastal communities they live in, while ensuring the health of the oceans.
Since its foundation in 1977, it has represented its members as a unified voice on a variety of complex issues affecting the industry, and has been instrumental in working towards historic achievements, such as:
Creation of the Homarus science subsidiary to further research and development
Creation of the Opilio subsidiary to manage the snow crab quota and the Community Impact Program investments and creation of communities of interest in N.B.
Creation of a national Federation of fishery associations to defend the independence of harvesters
Creation of a Coalition of Atlantic and Quebec fishing organizations
Access to a larger herring quota share vs. large seiners (industrial fleet)
Access to a unique employment insurance program (EI) designed specifically for the fishing industry
Changes to the Fisheries Representation Act
Implementation of the Bona fide fishing policy
Implementation of the Licence Retirement Program and repayment of the loan to the Province of New Brunswick for communities of interest
Increased lobster stocks through visionary conservation initiatives
Achieved certification for sustainable fisheries
Stopped the development of the Northern Pulp project
Introduction of Bill C-68 (Owner-Operator)
Protection of the inshore fishing zone in the right whale file
Obtained the Fish Harvester Benefit and Grant Program during the COVID-19 pandemic
Health plan for harvesters
Capital gains exemption plan
Access to new resources and to better sharing agreements (i.e. snow crab, halibut, etc.)
From the Archives
The MFU on the show Grands Bâtisseurs (only available in French).
MFU's cutting-edge advertising from 1990 (only available in English).
