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The federal government has announced new parental leave benefits for fish harvesters in Atlantic Canada. The P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association says it’s a positive change, but some people who fish, like lobster captain Bethany McCarthy (pictured) don’t expect the program to be in high demand.
Some lobster fishing captains on Prince Edward Island say they think there will be little interest in new parental leave benefits just announced by the federal government.
On Thursday, Ottawa announced maternity and parental benefits for people licensed to fish in Atlantic Canada, saying that could encourage the next generation of harvesters to join the fishing industry and provide more flexibility to those with new families.
“I don’t think there’ll be a lot of uptake on it,” said lobster captain Charlie McGeoghegan, who fishes out of Pinette on P.E.I.’s south shore. “I haven’t heard anybody even ask for it, so I’m not sure where this came …
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