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November 20, 1997
(Fisheries and Aquaculture)


The following statement was issued today by R. John Efford, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

For the past decade or more, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the sealing industry have focused efforts on the rebuilding of our seal fishery. We have made considerable progress in revitalizing the industry to the point where the export value of the 1997 harvest approximated $20 million. This success has been made possible by dedicated efforts to identify new markets for a wide range of products based on our policy that there must be full utilization of the animal.

The province remains fully committed to a revitalized seal fishery based around three key principles:

i) a sustainable seal harvest based around solid science;

ii) full utilization of the animal; and,

iii) humane harvest practices with zero tolerance for inappropriate harvesting practices.

Our overall objective is to ensure that the seal resource is fully developed for the benefit of sealers, other industry workers, and communities with a dependance on this important economic activity. Apart from this, we also fully recognize that seals are having a major impact on the recovery of our Northern cod stock and other stocks. From this perspective, seals have to be managed as an integral part of the marine ecosystem and not in isolation from well-defined predator-prey relationships.

It was only this June past that the Scientific Council of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization concluded that the harp seal population is consuming approximately 110,000 tonnes of northern cod annually, the greater percentage of which is juvenile cod less than 40 centimetres in length. The council concluded that the expanding seal populations may be hindering the recovery of the northern cod stock.

In recent weeks, the International Fund for Animal Welfare began its annual propaganda circus against the seal fishery. This campaign is based on misrepresentations of the facts, and as in previous years is grossly misleading.

My department, in concert with the Canadian Sealers Association and the sealing industry at large, is closely monitoring the activities of the IFAW. Already, we have made representation to the media and such advertising governing bodies as the Telecaster Committee of Canada to have misleading ads recalled.

However, we have no intention of giving the IFAW a publicity platform around which its propaganda campaign will be given any legitimacy whatsoever.

The province, in its continuing efforts to revitalize the seal fishery, will not be side-tracked by the mischievous actions of some organization whose stated objective is to end the commercial seal harvest.

We fully intend to continue expanding solid market opportunities so we can increase the economic benefits from the seal fishery. Such efforts include my recent mission to Asia, a significant portion of which was devoted to developing markets for seal products.

I am happy to report to the House that as a result of our discussions in Korea, their importing restrictions on seal products may be changed. In fact, changes may be made to allow shipment of seal oil to Korea as early as January coming.

The market for our seal products in China is exceptionally promising. Since I came back just a few days ago, one major company we met with has already sent me a proposal for discussion purposes.

Considering the enormous population of China and the fact that we have already made some inroads there with our seal products, further expansion of our market share there will be a tremendous boost for our seal industry. In Japan, we also are very encouraged by the keen interest companies have in exploring market opportunities with us, particularly for seal oil.

At the same time, we continue to address the issue of misinformation spread by the multi-million dollar advertising campaign of the IFAW. I have written publications such as the Globe and Mail newspaper and Time and Maclean's magazines, and am arranging for speaking engagements outside the province both to correct the glaring inaccuracies in the IFAW ads, and to present an accurate portrayal of our seal fishery and what it means to our coastal residents and economy.

Next week, both the Premier and I will be speaking at the international conference on sealing, here in St. John's. We are proud to host this conference and avail of this opportunity to focus attention on one of the healthiest mammal populations in the world, and how this vast renewable resource allows people in our coastal communities to pursue their livelihoods with dignity.

I have asked my federal counterpart to ensure that his department acts in a timely fashion to provide current and accurate information on the sealing industry to its embassies, news media and other audiences. For its part, government and my department in particular will, whenever necessary, challenge the IFAW campaign to ensure that there is a balanced perspective on the seal fishery.

The industry is expanding and is providing a measure of hope to individuals who have seen their lives shattered by the collapse of the groundfish sector. Our objective is to work with the federal government and all sectors of the industry to ensure that its full economic potential is realized. The misguided activities of the IFAW will not weaken this resolve.

1997 11 20 2:15 p.m.

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