Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise today to present a petition on behalf of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador with respect to the recreational food fishery. The petitioners are calling on the government to allow all residents of Newfoundland and Labrador fair and equitable access to the food fishery by allowing them to go out on the water seven days a week to fish for cod, regardless of what zone they live in.
Limited three-day-a-week access creates a safety risk as residents go out on the water in unsafe conditions. More importantly, they want the same access as the rest of the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador.