I rise today to inform my honourable colleagues of the outcome of Fisheries Forum 2000: A Forum on Sustainability and Viability, which is part of my department�s pro-active efforts and commitment to create a sustainable and viable fishery for the future. This conference, held on March 14 and 15, brought together key industry and community stakeholders to discuss important issues and challenges facing our fishery.

I am very pleased to report that Fisheries Forum 2000 was indeed a success with over 300 people participating from across the province, representing all facets of the fishery. The forum was very productive and informative, focusing on major issues that are before us as we move forward in rebuilding our fishing industry. Some of the issues highlighted during the forum included conservation, the status of our marine resources, resource allocation, fisheries research, quality, harvesting methods, education and training, workplace safety, community stability, diversification and cooperation between governments and industry.

A key message from all of the issues raised by the participants was that if we want to continue rebuilding and diversifying our fishery then it must be managed in a sustainable manner and we must all play a role in ensuring that we do not repeat the mistakes we made in the past with our groundfishery.

Concerns over our snow crab resource were raised at the forum following recent surveys by DFO scientists that showed poor recruitment in the crab biomass in some areas around the province. Although this information is preliminary and is a result of nature, not overfishing, we must ensure that we do whatever is necessary to avoid a collapse of the crab fishery down the road. We must be conservation-minded and protect our lucrative crab fishery for the long term.

Despite becoming a $1 billion industry in 1999, there are many challenges in the fishery and probably the greatest of these is doing what�s best for the fishery overall and the communities who depend on it without compromising our valuable fish stocks. We must also continue to look at new opportunities for small boat fishermen who are still trying to adjust to the collapse of the traditional groundfishery. It�s been eight years since the moratorium and still there are many unanswered questions surrounding our groundfish stocks. It is vital that we address these questions along with other important fisheries issues in a collaborative effort. We must apply the lessons we�ve learned from the past in managing our fishery today with conservation being the key principle. Fisheries Forum 2000 illustrates our commitment to the need for public input on this critical issue.

I want to state clearly that my department noted every concern and policy issue that were identified at Fisheries Forum 2000 and we will follow up on these issues in a timely fashion with industry. My department will continue to be pro-active in addressing the challenges of our fishery in a prudent and responsible manner.

To ensure a sustainable, viable fishery for the future, we need a commitment from everybody in the industry and I am proud to say that such a commitment was evident at Fisheries Forum 2000. I commend the participants for their interest and look forward to continue working with all stakeholders in our fishery because I believe that together, we can create a sustainable fishery that will benefit future generations.

2000 03 23                                                         3:35 p.m.