August 13, 1998
(Fisheries and Aquaculture)

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Minister Efford will be available at 1:30 p.m., Fisheries Building (main board room), 30 Strawberry Marsh Rd. to answer questions and make comment on the following news release.

Fisheries performance exceeding that of last year

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister John Efford, says all indications are that the fisheries sector is "performing extremely well to date in 1998. In fact, activity within the industry is far ahead of that for the same period in 1997, and the prospects for the remainder of 1998 are very promising."

Mr. Efford said that we have experienced extremely successful seal, crab and shrimp fisheries to date in '98, with landings fully in line with quota allocations.

"We have landed the total quota of 285,000 seals, have taken approximately 95 per cent of our 45,000 tonne crab quota to date, and the inshore northern shrimp fishery is progressing extremely well with about 12,000 tonnes landed so far. Another 22,000 tonnes of capelin were processed," he said.

In addition to these species, Mr. Efford said that other fisheries such as turbot, lobster, sea urchin and scallops "have made a solid contribution to the fishing industry's performance in the first seven months of 1998. The total output of processed fish products for the period was 65,000 metric tonnes, compared to 42,000 tonnes in 1997."

The minister, noting that the export value of fish products in 1997 was around $575 million, said he has "every confidence that the export value in 1998 will reach $600 million or more."

From an employment perspective, Mr. Efford said that a more diversified and multi-species fishery has resulted in employment for approximately 11,000 people to date in 1998, and approximately 14,000 fish harvesters have been engaged in various species fisheries. "As the industry diversifies and takes advantage of more opportunities the ocean offers, employment increases," he said, noting that in 1997 total employment was around 20,800.

He noted that the reopened 3Ps cod fishery has been welcomed by those dependent on this fishery and that the 20,000 tonne quota will be taken with little difficulty. "I am delighted that with this particular fishery, individual quotas for harvesters and quality assurance measures have ensured that the quality problems of 1997 have not been repeated. Cod landed was the best quality some processors had ever seen."

Another positive development, Mr. Efford said, is the return of the yellowtail flounder fishery on the southern Grand Banks following a moratorium on this species. "The 4,000-tonne quota for yellowtail flounder this year will generate renewed activity in the offshore sector on the south coast," he said.

Mr. Efford said that the industry's positive performance this year is due in part to the fact that some fisheries, in particular crab and shrimp, started early this year as the result of a pilot project aimed at early price settlements for these and some other species. In previous years, impasses in price negotiations for crab delayed the opening of the fishery for months, and this had a negative impact on both product quality and markets.

"Our fishery of the future can not be the same as the fishery of the past. It has to be private-sector driven, professional, with emphasis on quality assurance and productivity. It must be and it will be," he said.

"This is already happening," Mr. Efford said, highlighting the industry's extremely positive response to quality assurance measures which have been implemented in 1998. "Processors have told me that the quality of cod, crab and shrimp landed has been extremely good. If fact, the cod quality is better than they've ever seen."

"There is no doubt," he said, "that these measures will have a very positive impact on our competitive position in our export markets. All sectors of the industry are to be congratulated for their commitment to this program."

Mr. Efford reiterated his confidence in the fishing industry's revitalization and its contribution to employment and economic activity throughout the province.

"I am convinced we are on the road to fisheries sector rebuilding and that the performance of the industry in 1998 to date is making a solid contribution to the province's overall economic growth," he said.

Contact: Josephine Cheeseman, Communications (709) 729-3733.

1998 08 13                            10:40 a.m.