Did anyone remember the 21st anniversary of the Cod moratorium - on July 2, 2013?
Many of us missed it.
Government didn't even issue a press release; and it didn't hold a commemorative gathering as it did last year.
On the 10th anniversary of the moratorium, in 2002, the Liberal Government marked the occasion with the unveiling of a plaque in St. John's. They also issued a press release with the following sentiment
"The collapse of the groundfish fishery was an event that changed our province’s history, and a moment which most of us will never forget,"
No, we must never ever, ever forget. To do so would be to turn our back on our history, our culture and our collective soul.
There are indeed signs that the Cod is coming back and for that we are thankful.
Many of us missed it.
Government didn't even issue a press release; and it didn't hold a commemorative gathering as it did last year.
On the 10th anniversary of the moratorium, in 2002, the Liberal Government marked the occasion with the unveiling of a plaque in St. John's. They also issued a press release with the following sentiment
"The collapse of the groundfish fishery was an event that changed our province’s history, and a moment which most of us will never forget,"
No, we must never ever, ever forget. To do so would be to turn our back on our history, our culture and our collective soul.
There are indeed signs that the Cod is coming back and for that we are thankful.
And while there is research taking place here in the province by the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research (CFER), we have yet to have a comprehensive report on what has been accomplished in the three years since the Centre has been established. What is the purpose of the research if we cannot parlay it into something practical for our economy, our people and our province?
Both the provincial and federal governments here seem to be in a Cod Fog. They have no idea what is up or down. Meanwhile Cod has become the Norway's biggest export trend for 2013.
The bottom line we must remain vigilant - questioning and prodding - where does Cod fit into the economy, our culture and our lives in the years ahead.
We must push for something more than a short annual Cod food fishery.
The question is where do we go from here.
The first step is NEVER FORGET!
The next step for any visionary government is to deliver us from the Cod complacency of the current governments.
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The collapse of the Cod fishery isn't a failure of democracy or government.
It is the collective failure of millions of Canadians
to make their voices heard no matter what.
We cannot be ignored, unless we let ourselves be ignored.
Be peacemakers, but be unstoppable.
Chris and Maureen Scoville
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