Minister meets with industry and union representatives regarding the 
reopening of the shrimp fishery

Gerry Reid, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, met today with Mr. Reg Anstey, Secretary-Treasurer of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW/CAW) and Mr. Allister O'Reilly, President of the Fisheries Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (FANL), to discuss the urgent need to reopen the province's shrimp fishery.

"The closure of this fishery is having a severe impact on the people and communities who work in that industry," said Reid. "I have met separately with both FANL and the FFAW on several occasions since the fishery was closed, and I felt it was incumbent upon me at this critical time to bring the two parties together to impress upon them how crucial it is to get this fishery reopened no later than Monday of next week."

The FFAW and FANL, the two groups who represent shrimp processors and harvesters, will be meeting next week to negotiate a price whereby the shrimp fishery can reopen. On July 3, 2001, the province's shrimp fishery closed when harvesters and processors decided that the market prices for shrimp made it unfeasible to process any quantities of product.

"We had a frank and productive discussion, and I am confident that we all share the common goal of getting this fishery reopened, so as to salvage the shrimp fishery this season and get the affected people back to work," added Reid. "We covered many issues in our meeting, including the prohibitive 20 per cent tariff on our cooked and peeled shrimp going into the European Union (EU). We all agree that this tariff is the single biggest challenge in the fishery today and that the federal government must be more proactive in addressing it at the international trade level." Reid also discussed the implications of subsidizing the shrimp fishery in terms of the EU tariff.

"We also addressed the issue of the transshipment of Flemish Cap shrimp from foreign vessels through Newfoundland and Labrador ports," added Reid. "This is very disturbing in light of the fact that our shrimp fishery is closed."

The group also discussed other challenges facing the industry, including the need for a cooperative approach among all stakeholders in terms of developing effective marketing strategies, which would benefit the industry on a province-wide basis.

"There are certainly many challenges facing the shrimp fishery in this province, which must be addressed and which will be addressed by this government as we work with industry and the unions. However, today my main priority is to see the resumption of this fishery as soon as possible. It is my sincere hope that the fishers and the plant workers can get back to work by next week."

Media contact: Elizabeth Matthews, Communications, (709) 729-3733, or (709) 727-3438.

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