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NLIS 2
April 13, 2000
(Fisheries and Aquaculture)

 

The following statement was issued today John Efford, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I want to take this opportunity to respond to the announcement this morning by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans regarding the 2000 snow crab management plan. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in is full support of the overall reduction of 25 per cent in this year�s crab quota.

1999 snow crab landings reached a record level of approximately 69,000 metric tonnes, having increased from approximately 16,000 tonnes in 1992. This dramatic increase in landings, which was recommended by scientists, has been a key factor in the fishing industry�s performance over this period. The 15,000 tonne reduction in this year�s quota is based on the most current scientific assessment which cannot be ignored.

It is imperative that we proceed on the side of caution and listen to scientific evidence to ensure a sustainable crab fishery for the long term. We agree that prudent management measures must be taken considering the latest scientific information which shows a reduced commercial biomass and low recruitment of juvenile crab in the fishery. As we have said many times in the past, we must manage our fishery in a conservation-minded manner, and given the scientific assessment that has been presented to us, the only responsible thing to do is proceed with a reduction.

It should be clearly understood that the reduction in the snow crab quota is not the result of overfishing as was the case with Northern cod. The snow crab resource has been managed in a most prudent manner over the years and this explains why the quota increased dramatically over the 1992-99 period. In the absence of healthy juvenile snow crab recruitment year after year there is bound to be cyclical fluctuations in the resource, which in turn will lead to quota adjustments like those announced today for the 2000 fishing season.

I�d like to point out that the snow crab market remains very strong and we anticipate that upward price adjustments for crab landings this year will offset, for the most part, the quota reductions announced today. Once the fishery commences we will have a better understanding of what impact this reduction will have on processing employment in the crab sector.

I want to conclude by saying that the reductions announced today are being made for prudent fisheries management reasons for the longer term benefit of the industry. This is why the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador supports the reduction announced today.

2000 04 13                                                         2:35 p.m.


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