NLIS 4 July 14, 2005 (Fisheries and Aquaculture) Province clarifies its position on the recreational groundfish fishery Transportation and Works Minister Tom Rideout, acting Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, today clarified the province�s position on the recreational fishery managed by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). �DFO decides whether there will be a recreational fishery, where there will be a recreational fishery and the terms and conditions of that fishery,� Minister Rideout said. �Our position is that there should be a recreational fishery wherever there is a directed commercial fishery and that the federal government must make the rules for access consistent across all provinces and all DFO regions.� DFO announced the rules for the 2005 recreational fishery for this province on Thursday, July 14. A recreational fishery will open from August 1 to September 15 along the south coast of the island between Cape St. Mary�s and Burgeo, in the NAFO subdivision 3Ps. As with the 2004 recreational fishery, licences are one per person, and the cost is $10 plus tax for 15 cod tags. Other groundfish harvested do not need to be tagged; however, the daily bag limit is 15 groundfish per person. Residents in this province are frustrated that DFO applies a licence and tag regime in this province, but not in Nova Scotia. Off southern Nova Scotia, the recreational fishery remains open with no seasonal restriction, no licence fee or tags. The daily bag limit, however, is five fish. �People are frustrated that the rules are not consistent across provinces. We feel it is the responsibility of the federal government to manage the recreational fishery on a consistent basis across jurisdictions and in a manner consistent with conservation objectives,� Minister Rideout said. �Everyone should be subject to the same management measures.� The position of the provincial government has not changed from the position outlined by the Newfoundland and Labrador All-Party Committee on the 2J3KL and 3Pn4RS Cod Fisheries in 2003, which included the current premier and fisheries minister. Where stocks are closed to commercial fishing for reasons of conservation, there should be no recreational cod fishery. For more information on this year�s recreational fishery, go to the DFO web site at www.nfl.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/publications/news_presse_NL_TNL_0525.asp Media contact: Tracy Barron, Communications, (709) 729-3733 or 690-6157 2005 07 14 4:55 p.m. |
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