August 23, 1996
(Executive Council)

Premiers call for Canadian ratification of the UN Agreement on high seas fisheries

Premier Brian Tobin welcomed the call by all Premiers at the Annual Conference in Jasper, Alberta, for Canada to ratify on an urgent basis the United Nations Convention on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (the UN Agreement).

"Canada spearheaded efforts to achieve an effective international regime to protect and rebuild straddling stocks like cod, flounder and turbot on the Grand Banks," said Mr. Tobin. "One year ago, in August 1995, an international conference approved new rules for conservation and enforcement outside 200 miles. It is time for Canada to show leadership again by ratifying the UN Agreement and to press other countries to do the same."

Key elements of the UN Agreement include:

• Stronger rules for conservation of straddling stocks;
  
• New powers for enforcement of conservation rules outside 200 miles; and
  
• Binding and compulsory dispute settlement of international fisheries disputes.

Premier Tobin also welcomed the Premiers' strong support for Bill C-29, the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act; this legislation provides authority for the federal government to take unilateral action, where necessary, against foreign vessels that overfish outside 200 miles on the Grand Banks. Bill C-29 was used in the spring of 1995 to arrest the Spanish vessel Estai.

"Premiers recognize that ratification by Canada of the UN Agreement by itself will not end the threat of foreign overfishing," Premier Tobin said. "Premiers agreed that Canada should retain Bill C-29 as a deterrent to foreign overfishing until an effective and permanent international fisheries regime based on the UN Agreement is established and NAFO (North Atlantic Fisheries Organization) is reformed to provide for effective conservation of straddling stocks outside Canada's 200 mile limit."

BACKGROUNDER

Excerpt from the final communique from the 1996 Annual Premiers' Conference: Premiers called on the Government of Canada to:

• "ratify the new UN Agreement on an urgent basis and encourage other nations to do the same;
• based on the UN Agreement, work with other nations to effectively reform NAFO; and
• retain Bill C-29 as a deterrent to foreign overfishing until an effective and permanent international fisheries regime based on the new UN Agreement is established, and NAFO is reformed to provide for effective conservation of straddling stocks outside Canada's 200 mile limit."

Contact: Cathy Coady, Director of Communications, (709) 729-3574