Statement by John Efford, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture read in the House of Assembly November 16, 1999:

I would like to advise my honourable colleagues of a new Government-Industry Working Group on Fisheries which I announced at a news conference this morning. This new working group is part of my department's new Quality Action Plan that will focus on developing a

long-term strategy to achieve and maintain premium quality fish products. This is a joint initiative between government and industry, that will concentrate on a number of issues surrounding quality, with an initial emphasis on the shrimp fishery. The working group includes representatives from FANL, FFAW, Sea Freez Foods, Fishery Products International and representatives from my department.

Through a team approach, we want to continue to create an awareness of the importance of producing a top quality product and the importance of the proper handling of species like shrimp, through harvesting, offloading, transporting, processing and marketing.

The initial phase of the Quality Action Plan and the first function of the Working Group on Fisheries will be to conduct a series of forums throughout the province with industry stakeholders to identify areas of concern as it relates to quality, and pinpoint ways to resolve these

issues. The forums will take place over the next couple of months and details of the first education and awareness meeting, which will focus on shrimp, will be announced shortly.

We must be pro-active if we want to be number one in the global marketplace. In order to achieve this goal we must become more competitive and we must build on our quality initiatives if we are to meet the competitive realities of the international marketplace.

This new Working Group on Fisheries will build on my department's existing Quality Assurance Program, which has been very effective and we remain committed to this program. However, our evolving fishery presents many challenges, especially in the shrimp fishery which must be managed carefully if we are to derive the maximum benefits from this valuable resource. The new working group will provide and identify expertise in various areas to demonstrate the importance of maintaining a top quality product throughout all stages in the handling process from harvesting to marketing.

I will be encouraging all industry stakeholders to participate in the meetings which will help us develop a long-term strategy on quality in the fishing industry. It's imperative that we work together to achieve a viable fishing industry for future generations.

Together we will make a difference.