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NLIS 4 March 26, 2003 (Fisheries and Aquaculture) Minister responds to FRCC
recommendations Yvonne Jones, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, responded today to the release of the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council (FRCC) report to the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans on the 2003/2004 conservation requirements for groundfish stocks in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The FRCC Conservation Requirements for Groundfish Stocks in 2J3KL are expected to be released tomorrow. "There are recommendations made by the FRCC on 3Pn4RS that are consistent with those of the Newfoundland and Labrador All-Party Committee on the 2J3KL and 3Pn4RS Cod Fisheries while other recommendations for the Gulf Region cause major concerns for our province," said Minister Jones. "The FRCC has recommended a reduction in the TAC to 3,500 t from the current level of 7,000 t and that the TAC be maintained at the reduced level for the next five years. The fishers and the union have stated very clearly that if the quota fell below 4,000 - 5,000 t it would be impossible to make a living. A reduction to levels recommended by the FRCC will cause considerable hardship for many fishers and plant workers of this province. We want to call upon the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to consider the economic impact on fishers when he makes decisions on quotas. The FRCC report is based only on science and does not take into account the social and economic impact on the users of the resource. "On a more positive side, the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture is pleased that the FRCC recognized the conservation efforts of the fishers in the Gulf and that they brought forward the fishers recommendation that they return to hook and line and handline fishing only. The government endorses this recommendation and believes it is a proper step in trying to conserve this cod stock. "I am pleased with the suggestion that there be a Gulf wide closure of the cod fishery during the spawning period and that there be no groundfish fishery at all in the known spawning area off Bay St. George Port au Port during the spawning period. The FRCC recommended measures beyond those put forward by the All Party Committee and these measures should act to further conserve the cod stocks. "The FRCC also recommended seal exclusion zones and identified areas to be protected. This is commendable and we hope the Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans accepts this recommendation and takes steps to protect cod in these critical areas. The All Party Committee has recommended that the Government of Canada implement a plan that identifies seal exclusion zones to protect recovering cod stocks. With both the FRCC and the All Party Committee emphasizing the importance of seal exclusion zones perhaps the federal government will take heed . "Fred Woodman, chair of the FRCC stated clearly that further restrictions on the fisheries alone will not rebuild the cod stocks in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is significant that the Newfoundland and Labrador All Party Committee and the FRCC have made this clear in recommendations to the Minister of Fisheries and Ocean, Robert Thibault." Media contact: Cynthia Layden-Barron, Communications (709) 729-3733. 2003 03 26 3:15 p.m. |
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