Minister comments on outcome of NAFO meeting

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Trevor Taylor is encouraged at the movement and commitment by the member countries during the annual Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) in Estonia this week to reforming the organization.

�It is clear that progress was made to implement the declaration made in May in St. John�s to move from words to action in addressing the ineffectiveness of NAFO,� Minister Taylor said. �We are encouraged by the acknowledgement that reform is necessary and by the process and timelines identified to make it happen. We ask the federal government to apply the appropriate pressure to ensure the timelines are met.�

Senior officials of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture represented the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador as members of the Canadian delegation at the 27th annual meeting, which concluded today. The province�s position going into the meeting was that unless a decisive and timely plan for reforming NAFO was identified, the Government of Canada should immediately move to replace NAFO. Failure by NAFO to overcome the problems of international governance and overfishing has contributed to the devastation of this province�s coastal communities.

As a result of a joint proposal by Canada and the European Union (EU), a special working group has been established to bring forward amendments to the NAFO Convention to achieve reform. Canada and the EU will lead the working group, which will meet in April and make recommendations at the next meeting of NAFO in September 2006. An existing standing committee of NAFO will look into compliance, enforcement, monitoring and sanction issues during its regular meeting in June and also bring forward recommendations at the next annual meeting.

�We see the working group as a positive first step, but unless there is significant reform and enhanced coastal state authority over straddling stocks we will not see a solution to the problem of foreign overfishing,� Minister Taylor said. �If this process doesn�t result in real reform, Canada must follow the advice of the recent Advisory Panel on Sustainable Management of Straddling Fish Stocks in the Northwest Atlantic and act to replace NAFO.�

The province expects the working group to address elements of a custodial management approach where Canada, as the coastal state, has additional responsibilities over straddling fish stocks. The group must also ensure greater flag-state follow-up in prosecuting vessels that fish illegally and that movement is made to replace the objection procedure, which effectively allows member states to fish what they decide if they don�t like a decision. The province supports moving to a compulsory dispute resolution and enhanced enforcement program.

The annual meeting also resulted in a 9,000-tonne increase in the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for 3L shrimp in 2006. Minister Taylor said he is pleased to see the 3L shrimp resource growing. The additional quota is welcome news for the province�s shrimp fishery, despite the current challenges associated with the industry.

The Fisheries Commission of NAFO is keeping the 3LNO yellowtail founder TAC 15,000 tonnes for 2006. Fishery Products International (FPI) holds approximately 90 per cent of the TAC for this stock, making it an important fishery for the province. The Greenland halibut TAC will be 18,500 tonnes in 2006, consistent with the rebuilding plan established in 2004. Catches in 2004 exceeded the TAC as a result of EU vessels exceeding their quota.

�This stock is in severe decline and failure to adhere to the rebuilding plan may cause a complete collapse. This once again demonstrates the irresponsible behavior of some contracting parties and the need to address the ineffectiveness of NAFO,� Minister Taylor said. �A strong commitment to reform did emerge out of the meeting in Estonia. The meetings in April and June of the groups tasked to bring back recommendations will give us the opportunity to see in the interim whether the parties are truly committed to change.�

Minister Taylor thanked Canada for initiating discussions on reforming NAFO and the Canadian delegation for their contribution at the meeting to bringing it forward.

Media contact: Tracy Barron, Communications, (709) 729-3733, 690-6157

2005 09 23                         9:30 a.m.