NLIS 12
April 11, 2003
(Fisheries and Aquaculture)

 

Minister responds to report on the Roundtable Forum on 
Improving the Management of Straddling Stocks

Yvonne Jones, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, responded today to the release of the report on the roundtable forum on improving the management of straddling stocks. The roundtable was held in St. John�s on February 20. The purpose of the forum was to discuss a variety of options to improve the management of straddling stocks off Canada�s east coast. A number of experts on international fisheries management attended the workshop. Presentations were made surrounding three general themes: custodial management, the international legal fisheries regime, and improving the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks. The Deputy Minister of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Newfoundland and Labrador, presented the province�s custodial management model.

The roundtable forum concluded that there are strong concerns about foreign overfishing and widespread disappointment with the inability of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) to get flag states to control their fishing vessels, correct poor reporting standards and curtail the abuse of quotas.

"The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is pleased that Minister Thibault acknowledges that the current situation is unacceptable and that he shares many of our frustrations with regards to non-compliance of some NAFO member states," said Minister Jones.

Potential actions identified that can be taken immediately by Canada included: bilateral diplomacy, quicker enforcement action on infringement reports and a "ships of shame" policy for persistent violators.

"While we agree that these strategies may help in the short-term, it is the view of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador that a longer-term solution is necessary, given the lack of rebuilding of many of the stocks on the Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks," said the minister. "It is our hope that we are able to engage in such a discussion with the federal government and continue with the dialogue on custodial management," added Minister Jones.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to the establishment of a conservation-oriented and scientifically-based management regime on the Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks and the Flemish Cap, which allows for sustainable fishing and resource rebuilding.

2003 04 11                                       4:35 p.m.


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