Minister pleased with re-opening of cod fishery in Northern Gulf

Trevor Taylor, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, is pleased that a small-scale cod fishery in the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence (area 3Pn4RS) has been opened.

The federal government today announced that it has accepted the recommendations of the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council (FRCC) for a harvest of 3,500 tonnes in 3Pn4RS. Geoff Regan, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, is acting on the FRCC�s advice to re-open the commercial fishery in the Northern Gulf.`

Minister Taylor said that Minister Regan did the right thing by listening to stakeholders� views. "From the outset, I have urged Minister Regan to have the FRCC provide advice on the cod stock in the Northern Gulf this year and, last week, I formally requested that he accept the FRCC�s recommendations to re-open a fishery in the Northern Gulf," said the minister. "The need for stewardship measures is essential to the long-term future of our fishery which is vitally important to our province�s businesses and communities, particularly in rural areas. I am pleased that Minister Regan has acted on the guidance of those of us closest to the fishery."

Based on available scientific data, the province believes that the cod stock in 3Pn4RS can sustain a limited fishery.

Media contact: Alex Marland, Communications (709) 729-3733

2004 05 04                                       11:50 a.m.