Digest of Benefit Entitlement Principles   Chapter 15 - Section 2

15.2.0 Qualification based on earnings

A fundamental requirement to qualify for a fishing claim is that a fisher must not qualify for a non-fishing claim. In the event that sufficient insurable hours from non-fishing employment allow for the establishment of a non-fishing claim, the fisher may not choose the type of claim they wish to receive–a non-fishing claim must be established ^{Footnote 1} .

Fishers require $2,500 to $4,200 earnings from self-employment in fishing to qualify for fishing benefits depending upon the regional rate of unemployment ^{Footnote 2} .

15.2.1 Violations and fishing claims

Violations are counted and applied to fishing claims in the same manner as for non-fishing claims. Fishing claims are subject to the increased entrance requirements ^{Footnote 3} with modifications, as circumstances require for fishing benefits.

The amount of insurable earnings that a claimant, requires to qualify for fishing benefits is increased to the amount provided in the Regulations Table ^{Footnote 4} , where the claimant accumulated one or more violations in the 260 weeks before making an initial claim for benefits.

Once the violation is used to increase entrance requirements on two initial claims for fishing benefits, the claimant is relieved of the violation and its impact on the entrance requirements for subsequent claims ^{Footnote 5} .