Minister pleased with Senate Committee recommendations

Yvonne Jones, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, responded today to the release of the report by the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans on Straddling Fish Stocks in the Northwest Atlantic. The Committee is recommending that the Coastal State be accorded greater say in the decision making on stocks which straddle its 200-mile exclusive economic zone, a recommendation consistent with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador custodial management model.

Minister Jones stated: "The international management of stocks which straddle the Canadian 200-mile limit has been a concern for the government and people of Newfoundland and Labrador for the past 50 years. We are very pleased that the Senate Committee acknowledges the problems associated with the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) and the foreign fishery outside 200 miles.

"NAFO�s management of straddling stocks and Flemish Cap stocks in the Northwest Atlantic since 1979 has resulted in groundfish stocks being overfished. Today, moratoria exist on all traditional groundfish stocks managed by NAFO, with the exception of Greenland halibut and yellowtail founder," said the minister. " There remain other serious problems with enforcement, such as vessels exceeding allocations, use of illegal liners and misreporting of catch. I am pleased that the Senate Committee has recognized these problems and has lent its voice to the outcry for action.

"The Province has developed a custodial management model which could exist in concert with NAFO. This model would see coastal states exercise greater authority over straddling stocks.

We presented that model to the DFO Roundtable Forum on Improving Management of Straddling Stocks in February of 2003. The province is committed to a long-term solution to the overfishing problem and calls again on the Government of Canada to take all action within its power to protect the straddling stocks."

Media contact: Cynthia Layden-Barron, Communications, (709) 729 3733

2003 06 20                                      12:40 p.m.