Minister addresses the Fisheries Council of Canada

The Fisheries Council of Canada (FCC) held its Annual General Meeting in St. John�s today, and Gerry Reid, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, had an opportunity to speak with the group about the problems of foreign overfishing and this province�s position on custodial management.

"The Fisheries Council of Canada is an important organization within this country�s fishing industry, and I was pleased that they chose to have their annual convention in Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister Reid. "I was especially pleased to have an opportunity to speak with this group, and impress upon them the problems associated with foreign overfishing, a topic which is certainly not new to this group."

The minister discussed his recent attendance at the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) meeting in Spain, and the continued infractions against NAFO-member countries. He also outlined the province�s position on custodial management.

"Foreign overfishing and its impact on the economies of coastal states are certainly not new issues, and we firmly believe that foreign overfishing outside of Canada�s 200-mile limit contributed to the original collapse of the groundfish fishery, and continues to contribute to the inability of that stock to recover," said Minister Reid. "Irresponsible and unsustainable fishing practices on the Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks and the Flemish Cap is having a destructive impact on our fishery, and if we do not take immediate action to protect this precious resource, we may never see the groundfish recover, and furthermore, we may see other species affected in a similar manner.

"It is this government�s position, that since its inception, NAFO has been a completely ineffective organization in carrying out its mandate, as some member states repeatedly ignore regulations, and carry out fisheries with virtually no restrictions. As such, this government has long proposed the option of custodial management, if we are to have any hope of protecting these precious fishery resources."

Minister Reid asked for the support of the FCC in the province�s attempt to have the federal government seriously explore custodial management. Under custodial management, Canada would ensure that a conservation-oriented, scientifically-based management plan is put in place to allow for sustainable fishing and resource rebuilding. The historic shares of foreign nations would be respected; however, Canada would assume responsibility for ensuring that conservation and scientifically-based management is applied, and for the enforcement and surveillance of the area.

The minister also announced that the province would support the FCC�s research into managing fish stocks outside of the 200-mile limit.

"In the early 1990s, the Oceans Institute of Canada completed a comprehensive and valuable piece of work entitled Managing Fisheries Resources Beyond 200 Miles: Canada�s Options to Protect Northwest Atlantic Straddling stock," said Minister Reid. "I am pleased to announce today that the province will contribute $20,000 towards the FCC�s endeavour to update this document for the new millennium. I look forward to seeing the updated report, as we work together towards a viable solution that will be acceptable at the regional, national and international level."

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

2002 09 27                                         2:00 p.m.