Government remains available to discuss crab harvesters� concerns

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is proceeding with plans to introduce a raw material sharing (RMS) system in the crab sector and remains open to addressing any substantive concerns about the pilot project.

"We are listening and we understand there are concerns, as we knew there would be," says Trevor Taylor, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. "The decision to introduce a pilot project in raw material sharing was not taken lightly. As a Cabinet, we recognized that it would be easier, in the short term, to do nothing to address the problems in the industry. It would be easier to continue to ignore them, as previous administrations did. But the crab fishery is facing a difficult year, timely openings are too often an issue, and doing nothing would be irresponsible in the long term. We remain committed to this project on a trial basis and remain open to talking productively with the FFAW and addressing any valid issues. We�ve heard their message."

The minister was responding from his district on the Northern Peninsula to the announcement of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) that many crab harvesters have voted to tie up their boats to protest the March 2 announcement of the RMS system. In the meantime, the process of allocating raw material sharing arrangements is proceeding.

At least four studies have recommended that a sharing system can help address the instability that results when the union and processors are left to negotiate their own solutions. Further information about the raw material sharing project is available online at //www.gov.nl.ca/fishaq/release/crabrelease.stm.

Media contact: Deirdre Robinson-Greene, Communications, (709) 729-0084

2005 03 30                                   4:30 p.m.