Government Hosts Successful Visit from Members of European Parliament

The Honourable Tom Rideout, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, said that government hosted a successful visit from members of the European Parliament on November 25 and 26. The delegation visiting from the European Union included representatives from Ireland, the United Kingdom, Austria, Italy, Scotland and EU offices in Brussels.

�As a follow-up to meetings I attended in Brussels last October, I was pleased to host the delegation from the European Parliament in our province,� said Minister Rideout. �It was an excellent opportunity to continue addressing key issues with the European Union such as the sealing industry and trade issues.�

The parliamentarians began their visit with a tour of a sealing facility. They were provided with information on the processing and use of seal products, within the province and across the globe. There were also discussions about the economic importance of the sealing harvest to the province and individual sealers.

Minister Rideout said, �I believe the parliamentarians heard what we had to say about the sealing industry and we were successful in providing them with a new perspective. It was critical that we use this opportunity to get our message about the seal harvest out to one of our most important audiences, that being the European Parliament.�

The Lieutenant Governor hosted the parliamentarians for a dinner at Government House with representatives of the province�s seafood industry. This included representatives of processor associations, the Fish, Food and Allied Workers, the North East Sealers Co-operative and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans. �Representatives of industry supported us during our meetings with the EU in Brussels. Therefore, the dinner was a valuable follow-up meeting for them,� said the minister.

On November 26, the EU delegation gathered at The Rooms to receive presentations on a variety of issues related to the province�s fishery. This included presentations on the province�s sealing industry, trade and tariff issues and the impact of the cod moratorium.

�We provided our visitors with important information on Newfoundland and Labrador�s place in the global fishery and seafood industry,� said the minister. �The fishery is a priority for our government and we will avail of all opportunities to work with the global community for the development and enhancement of our industry and rural economies.�

Media contact:
Lori Lee Oates
Director of Communications
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
709-729-3733, 690-8403
oatesll@gov.nl.ca

2006 11 28                                           3:45 p.m.