Minister comments on outcomes of 26th annual NAFO meeting

The 26th annual meeting of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) concluded today in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Senior officials of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture represented Newfoundland and Labrador as members of the Canadian delegation.

Canada again used the annual NAFO meeting as an opportunity to pursue a number of objectives aimed at improving NAFO's management of important fisheries resources in the Northwest Atlantic. Canada again called attention to problems with compliance by NAFO members states and sought regulation of unregulated fisheries in the NAFO Regulatory Area (NRA).

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Trevor Taylor said: "The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador continues to be very concerned with the fishing behavior of foreign fleets outside our 200 mile limit. Review of compliance with NAFO rules by NAFO member vessels in 2003 again confirmed continued violations including directed fishing for moratoria species, misreporting of catch, mesh size violations, and failure to carry an independent observer. This province continues to see NAFO as an ineffective organization as it currently operates and we will continue to press the federal government to pursue custodial management."

In commenting on specific outcomes of the meeting, Minister Taylor noted NAFO's decision to maintain the Greenland Halibut Rebuilding Plan, adopted in 2003, as a positive outcome. The reduction of the turbot quota to 19,000 tonnes in 2005 and subsequent reductions for the following two years remains as a significant accomplishment and is supported given the latest scientific advice.

Also on a positive note, Minister Taylor indicated that he is encouraged by NAFO's decision to bring three currently unregulated stocks under management and believes all stocks subjected to directed fishing in the NRA should be regulated for purposes of conservation. "The decision by NAFO members to impose regulation on the 3O redfish, 3LNO skate and 3NO white hake stocks is a step in the right direction," observed the minister. "What now remains to be seen is whether or not NAFO members fishing these stocks will actually abide by the rules they have established for themselves. We will be pressing the Government of Canada to continue its increased levels of surveillance and enforcement activity towards this end, especially given the lack of movement on custodial management."

The minister said the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is disappointed with the lack of progress toward an improved port inspection regime. "The requirement for improvements in this area was clearly illustrated earlier this year when Canadian inspectors were denied the right to participate in dockside inspections of two Portuguese vessels which had been boarded and cited for illegal fishing activity by Canadian fisheries officers," said Minister Taylor. "This illustrates the lack of commitment by member states to address illegal fishing activity by its member vessels.

"For over a decade, the people of Newfoundland and Labrador have learned hard lessons from the poor conservation and management of fish stocks. The Canadian government is doing a good job at policing waters within its 200-mile jurisdictional limit. The problem is, banned fish species aren't aware of this imaginary line in the sea, and continue to be captured in alarming quantities by unfettered foreign vessels."

The minister added that foreign overfishing has escalated into a pressing international issue. "The Canadian industry is doing its part to ensure proper management of weakened fish stocks, such as American plaice, witch flounder, and 3N0 cod, while some other nations are not. Conservation efforts on our side of the 200-mile limit are an exercise in futility if conservation principles are ignored out on the high seas."

Media contact: Tansy Mundon, Communications, (709) 729-0928 or (709) 685-1741.

2004 09 17                  4:30 p.m.