Fish still missing, traditions extinct 30 years after N.L. cod moratorium

John Williams wishes he could say the cod moratorium of 1992 feels like it was yesterday.

But after losing his livelihood and reinventing himself a few times over, he's felt every one of the past 30 years.

Williams was one of about 30,000 people put out of work when the federal government brought an end to the northern cod fishery on July 2, 1992. It's a date that still stirs up feelings from a solemn and desperate chapter in Newfoundland and Labrador's history.

"It was a pretty sad time to know that you weren't going to go fishing anymore," Williams said.

"At the time I had three kids, and they had to be fed, go to school, and be clothed. It was tough."

It doesn't help Williams that he's constantly reminded of his small role in history — being the person who prompted former Fisheries Minister John Crosbie to utter some of his most famous words.

It was July 1, 1992, and Crosbie was holding a Canada Day celebration in Bay Bulls, a small fishing village near St. John's, where nobody was in a mood to celebrate.

Especially not with Crosbie, when they knew what was coming the next day. Earlier in the week, Crosbie had given harvesters until July 2 to haul their nets out of the water. 

Things quickly went sideways, as a large crowd of angry fishermen and plant workers heckled the minister incessantly. Crosbie came down off the stage and confronted the crowd face-to-face. Williams moved closer, yelling his concerns a few feet from Crosbie's face.

"Don't abuse me!" Crosbie snapped at Williams.

"I didn't abuse you!" Williams clapped back.

"I didn't take the fish from the goddamn water, so don't go abusing me!" Crosbie responded.

Those words became central to the political legacy of John Crosbie. But they also followed John Williams for 30 years — often as a punchline, other times a painful reminder of what he lost.

Williams and the other protesters knew they were doomed. Fish had been getting smaller and harder to find for several years. They were mad, however, at the lack of communication and planning that left fishermen and plant workers in the dark.