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Continued funding for initiatives against foreign overfishing Yvonne Jones, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, says Budget 2003 allocates $100,000 to continue government�s initiatives against foreign overfishing. "Following a 10-year moratorium on groundfish stocks, there is no evidence of recovery of key stocks," said the minister. "The Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization has failed to develop and implement an adequate conservation resource management regime for waters outside Canada�s 200-mile limit. Communities are in decline and we need to find solutions to this crisis. "The objective is to increase the awareness of, and solutions for, the serious problem of foreign overfishing on the Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks, and we will continue our efforts to bring a solution to this problem." Funding will be used for research on the foreign overfishing problem relating to international maritime law and fisheries science and management. As well, educational materials will be developed, and provincial representatives will attend international, national and provincial meetings and conferences concerning foreign overfishing. "Progress was made on this initiative in 2002 and it is necessary to maintain the focus and momentum created by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador on this serious threat to the province�s environment and economy," said Minister Jones. Media contact: Cynthia Layden-Barron, Communications, (709) 729-3733. 2003 03 27 4:00 p.m. |
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