News Releases
Government Home Search Sitemap Contact Us  


May 31, 1996
(Executive Council)


Premier Tobin responds to federal announcment on opening ports to EU vessels

Premier Brian Tobin noted today that the federal government has announced the re-opening of Canadian ports to fishing vessels from the European Union (EU). The decision was announced earlier today by Fred Mifflin, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

Premier Tobin said it is important that Canada's decision was taken by it alone and not tied to an agreement with other nations. "We must retain the freedom to close our ports again unilaterally should the need arise," the premier said.

The premier indicated that important progress has been made in Canada-EU fisheries relations since the turbot dispute in early 1995. "Observers have been on all EU vessels for over a year, and Canada and the EU have cooperated to put in place a scheme for 100 per cent observer coverage for vessels from all NAFO countries," he said. Since independent observers have been put on all EU vessels, the previous pattern of widespread conservation infractions has ended. Only one major NAFO infraction by EU vessels has been found in the past year, compared to 58 major infractions in the year leading up to the turbot dispute.

There has also been a decrease in European fishing activity on the Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks. For the week ending May 6, 1996, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) reports that there were nine EU vessels fishing NAFO quotas for straddling stocks on the Nose and Tail. This compares to 27 vessels for the same week in 1995.

The premier indicated that, while these developments are positive, Canada must remain vigilant in its efforts to protect and rebuild straddling stocks. "Canada has shown leadership," he said. "Our commitment to working cooperatively with other nations to achieve effective international conservation, and our commitment to act unilaterally where necessary, have ended the immediate threat of foreign overfishing. Both commitments must be maintained for the foreseeable future in order to ensure good conservation." In this context, he said that Canada must retain Bill C-29 - the amendments to the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act - to allow it to act against foreign overfishing that threatens straddling stocks.

The premier also pointed out that the 100 per cent observer coverage program was instituted as a two year pilot project by NAFO, and will be reviewed at the 1997 NAFO annual meeting. "100 per cent observer coverage is key to Canada's conservation efforts on the Grand Banks," the premier said. "We must ensure that it is adopted by NAFO as a permanent program."

Canadian estimates suggest that the EU is close to catching its 1996 turbot quota. Most Spanish vessels are expected to leave the Grand Banks within another month or so. Portuguese vessels are expected to take slightly longer to harvest the quota.

Contact: Cathy Coady, (709) 729-3564

1996 05 31 7:00 p.m.

SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement