Agreement on cod fishery will address quality issue

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister John Efford said today that after extensive consultation with the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW), and the Fisheries Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (FANL) an agreement has been reached regarding the cod quality issue and cod processing will not be halted during the province�s summer fishery.

Mr. Efford said the key focus of the agreement is making the recently negotiated cod quality dockside grading program mandatory for all fish harvesters. This means fishers will only get paid on the basis of the quality of their fish and they can longer opt to choose the standard grading program.

"To ensure top quality fish, all cod landed around the province must be subject to the new dockside grading process. This will provide a clear picture of the quality that is being landed and we will be able to determine very quickly if the cod coming in is of low grade," said Mr. Efford.

He stressed: "If the quality of cod deteriorates below 75 per cent Grade A standard, my department reserves the right to issue an advisory to processors under the Fish Inspection Act that will prohibit cod processing until the cod quality improves to an acceptable level."

After listening to the concerns of both the processors and fish harvesters, Mr. Efford said that the only way he would not proceed with a directive to ban cod processing would be if all parties agreed to mandatory dockside grading by the independent grading company in accordance with the collective agreement.

"Fish harvesters claim they are landing good quality cod, so this mandatory cod grading program will either demonstrate what they are saying or it will show that the quality is not up to standard at which time the cod fishery will be closed," Mr. Efford said.

He added his inspection staff will be monitoring the dockside grading activity very closely on a daily basis around the province to ensure the criteria is complied with and that only superior fish is landed.

Mr. Efford said that he has to make a lot of tough decisions as provincial Fisheries Minister with a focus on only doing what is in the best interest of the people working in the fishery and the fishing industry overall.

"Making the cod grading program mandatory will indeed address my concern with the quality of cod this time of year, so I have accomplished what I set out to do; it�s just being done in a different manner."

Mr. Efford said the Newfoundland and Labrador fishing industry has made major strides in producing high quality seafood for the world marketplace, especially with crab and shrimp, and it is imperative that we continue to move forward and do what we must do to improve our reputation for cod quality and derive the maximum benefits from this resource as well.

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

2000 07 21            2:50 p.m.