NLIS 2
September 23, 2005
(Fisheries and Aquaculture)
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. |