News Releases
Government Home Search Sitemap Contact Us  


September 13, 1999
(Fisheries and Aquaculture)


Minister requesting decision on offshore exploratory crab quota

R. John Efford, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, spoke to the federal Minister of Fisheries, Herb Dhaliwal, today and encouraged him to announce as soon as possible whether or not there will be an additional exploratory crab fishery outside 200 miles in 1999.

"In my conversation with Mr. Dhaliwal he asked me whether we should hold an additional exploratory crab fishery this fall or wait until next spring. I emphasized to him that it should take place this year and Mr. Dhaliwal has made a commitment that he will make an announcementregarding the exploratory crab fishery outside 200 miles and 3LNO within the next couple of days."

Mr. Efford says it's important that any additional quota beannounced as soon as possible and that full consultation with industry must then take place to make decisions on the allocation. DFO's mid-season review on the crab fishery outside 200 miles was very favourable and additional exploratory harvesting is necessary in order to gatherthe information needed to set an appropriate quota for the year 2000.

"It is our hope that arrangements can be made with the existing under 65-foot fleet to land crab into South Coast communities that have been hit hard by the collapse of the groundfishery," said Efford.

He added that the province is committed to helping communities such as Burgeo, Ramea and Gaultois, which were traditionally dependent on the fishery to benefit from this resource, but stresses that fishers shouldfish and processors should process; and the existing fleet separation policy must not be compromised.

Media contact: Sonia B. Glover-Sullivan, Communications, (709) 729-3733.

1999 09 13                      4:25 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