Murray Perrett is an Area Fisheries Manager with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland. It’s an important role in a region where fishing is not only a major economic driver, but the “heart and soul of the community.”
He works in resource management to ensure commercial and recreational fisheries operate smoothly and sustainably.
“We have a very big coastline in Newfoundland and Labrador, and my job is to make sure that there's fish out there for the fish harvesters to catch,” he says.
The fishing industry affects nearly everyone on the island, from the boat crews to the fish plant workers and Indigenous communities.
A rewarding part of Murray’s job is helping Indigenous communities obtain licenses to fish for food, social, and ceremonial purposes. He says access to fresh, local fish is crucial, given the high cost of food in remote northern areas.
Although Murray spends most days in the office, his favorite part of the job is getting out to meet local harvesters.
“I want to hear from them. What are their concerns? Where’s the fishery going? It’s an opportunity to talk to them and get feedback.”
Happy Valley-Goose Bay is a small town, and Murray sometimes gets stopped by community members outside of the office with questions about the local fishery.
“That’s the nice thing. We work collaboratively with the fish harvesters to help manage the fishery together, like one team. Even though I’m a public servant with the Government of Canada, we’re working as a team, and I really like that.”
Murray is also a proud member of PIPSC. As someone who values labour and community, he says it’s critical to have union representation.
“The public servants that we have work really hard and take pride in the work we do – and it's important work that we do. I just wish the public did see more of what we did behind the scenes.”
It’s not always smooth waters. Murray says the job can be stressful because when something goes wrong, livelihoods are at stake.
Sometimes, a fishing vessel will break down, resulting in lost income for a harvester and their family. Murray will work late to get them a new vessel and back on the water as soon and safely as possible.
Once, a captain fell ill on a boat and was medevaced out, leaving the vessel and gear still out there on the water. Murray quickly oversaw the process of getting a licensed replacement to take over, continue fishing, and bring the product to shore.
Resource management requires swift action, but also foresight to ensure Canada’s fishery resources provide for generations to come.
“It’s important to make sure that we have a sustainable fishery in the future so that these communities can continue to thrive,” Murray says.
“Climate change (is) the big question mark,” he adds. “Our oceans are changing, and we are seeing species here in Labrador that have never been here before.”
He points to crab, a species that has traditionally been fished in cold, deep water. Crab behavior is changing, and they are crawling up into shallower water to get to the cold medium they like.
As fish harvesters adapt their practices, Murray is there every step of the way to help them navigate the changes.
Supporting fisheries is a team effort. Murray shares an office building with fellow public servants who do vital work in statistics, science, conservation, and protection. The pace is hectic and any given day can bring new challenges.
Despite the demands of work, Murray still finds time to pursue other passions that bring him closer to his community, such as farming. He’s passed down his enthusiasm for the Canadian outdoors to his two children, and hopes the beauty of their coastline will be cherished for generations to come.
“This resource belongs to Canada. It belongs to the people. We are just managing this fishery to make sure that it’s sustainable, to make sure that we always have fish in the water that can be sustainably harvested and will be there for the future.”
Murray believes in his work, he believes in protecting Canada’s resources – our oceans, our wildlife – and the communities at the heart of them.