Government to issue call for licence applications for Englee

Tom Rideout, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, today announced that the department will be issuing a public call for licence applications for the community of Englee.

Minister Rideout said, "The department has further considered the licensing situation for the Canada Bay area and has decided to move forward with a new call for applications. The new call for applications will be restricted to proposals for the establishment of a fish processing operation in the community of Englee. There has been fishing and processing activity in Englee for many decades and they should be given every opportunity to continue to have a licence."

"I met recently with a delegation from the community and they provided a compelling case why the licence should remain in Englee," continued the minister. "Englee was also the last community in the Canada Bay area to hold a crab processing licence, therefore, this community will be the focus of the call for applications."

Minister Rideout said the previous call for applications will be cancelled. "The three proposals received during the initial call for applications have not been assessed by the licensing board. They will not be assessed now that the call for applications has been cancelled. This is a new call for proposals. The proponents of the previous call will have their licence application fees refunded, and are free to apply under the new call."

Government first announced a call for applications for the Canada Bay area on October 3, 2005, as a result of the failure of Daley Brothers to confirm whether they intended to operate their Englee plant in 2006.

"The call for applications will be publicly issued early in the New Year," said Minister Rideout. "The Fish Processing Licensing Board will assess the applications, and make recommendations. I will then make a decision, and a further announcement will be made at that time."

Minister Rideout reiterated government�s commitment to the fishing industry in Newfoundland and Labrador. "The fishing industry in this province, as well as the sustainability of rural Newfoundland and Labrador, continue to be top priorities for government," said the minister. "The fishery is currently undergoing dramatic changes and our government is committed to addressing these changes for the people of the province who depend on the resource."

Media contact: Danny Pond, Communications, (709) 729-6076, 685-3415

2005 12 22                          12:00 noon