Government requiring full utilization of capelin

Tom Rideout, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, today announced that the department will be issuing a licence directive to capelin processors requiring that all capelin be fully utilized.

"In the future, all processors licensed for capelin will be required to engage in full utilization practices," said Minister Rideout. "If a processor cannot accommodate its capelin purchases, or if other processing arrangements cannot be made, the company must still ensure that the species is fully utilized. It must be directed to uses such as silage, composting, fish meal or any other legitimate alternative."

The minister says that the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture will be very stringent with the enforcement of this policy, and that only exceptional circumstances will warrant an exemption.

"Any exemption allowing a licensed processor to discard capelin will only be considered where it has been determined by inspection staff that a glut situation exists," said Minister Rideout, "and that the processor in question has made all reasonable efforts to find alternatives.

"In other words, a company must demonstrate that they have contacted other processors to determine if surplus landings can be handled elsewhere, and that other alternatives have been explored and exhausted."

Minister Rideout indicated that he is asking for industry�s cooperation with the implementation of this new policy.

"Excess volumes of landed capelin must be minimized where possible," said the minister. "Therefore, I am asking industry to assist in bringing order to the capelin fishery by controlling landed volumes."

"Ensuring full utilization of all capelin landed in Newfoundland and Labrador will ensure that we maximize associated employment and revenue generating opportunities," continued Minister Rideout, "and that is our top priority."

Media contact: Lori Lee Oates, ABC, Communications, (709) 729-3733, 690-8403

2006 06 16                         2:30 p.m.