December 18, 1998
(Fisheries and Aquaculture)

Efford challenges DFO to heed latest FRCC report and place interests of
Atlantic Canadians over those of eco-terrorists

John Efford, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, today commended the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council (FRCC) on their annual recommendations to the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) with respect to the serious effect of grey and harp seal predation on Atlantic groundfish stocks, especially cod.

Said Efford: "The council is to be commended for its strong recognition of the need for DFO to address the seal herd overpopulation problem and the resulting impact that overpopulation has on the recovery of our groundfish stocks in Atlantic Canada.

"I am particularly pleased with the strength of the FRCC's call for immediate action to protect affected groundfish stocks from predation by an overpopulated seal herd. The FRCC's recommendations are a major breakthrough in support for this issue and are the push that has been needed to force Ottawa into addressing the problem.

"Now, if Ottawa chooses to ignore the problem and the FRCC's recommendations, they - Ottawa - will have to take full responsibility for the impact their negligence, just as they took responsibility for the collapse of groundfish stocks in 1992."

In this year's report, the FRCC, a federally appointed council which makes public recommendations to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans on such issues as total allowable catches and other conservation measures for the Atlantic fishery, "noted with dismay the apparent lack of progress [by DFO] in implementing measures to reduce either the harp or grey seal populations."

It was also pointed out in the FRCC report that there is "a prevailing view among many associated with the Atlantic fishing industry that the federal government's inaction on this matter reflects an abandonment of interests of the fishing industry and the groundfish resource in favour of potential political or trade considerations associated with the anticipated reaction of those who oppose action to reduce the seal herd."

Said Efford: "There is no question that the federal government's previous inaction was in response to a small group of eco-terrorists. Now it has been clearly demonstrated by the federal government's own council, the FRCC, that strong and immediate action is required.

"I call on Minister Anderson to stand up against the eco-terrorists and this time make the decision to establish a total allowable catch in the sealing industry which is in the best interests of the Atlantic Canada groundfish stocks."

Media contact: Mary MacNab, Sealing Industry Promotions Officer, Telephone: (709) 729-3745, Cell: (709) 682-8270,

email: mmacnab@mail.gov.nf.ca

1998 12 18                          12:25 p.m.