Progressive Conservative leader Tony Wakeham is calling on the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to expand the province’s food fishery. “Expanding the fishery gives people the flexibility to fish safely and responsibly, without being forced onto the water only on weekends.”Wakeham cited an incident off Crawley’s Point in Conception Bay on June 28, the opening day of this year’s food fishery, when a boat capsized. Last month DFO announced an expanded commercial Northern cod fishery, prompting allegations of political decision-making against scientific evidence that suggests Northern cod stocks need to recover more before their total allowable catch (TAC) is increased in the commercial sector. The announcement didn’t include any expansion of the food fishery, but in its news release DFO said it will “launch public consultations [to] gather input on [the food] fishery, and discuss the distinct differences in the health of the province’s three cod populations. “While the stocks on the south and west coasts remain in the Critical Zone, the Northern cod stock status has improved,” the statement reads.