Fisheries and Aquaculture
November 27, 2007

Crab Fishery Playing a Vital Role in the Province�s Economy

Forty years after the first snow crab was retrieved from Newfoundland and Labrador waters, the Provincial Government will bring the fishing industry together in celebration of the vital role that the snow crab fishery has come to play in this province�s economy.

"Four decades ago, no one could have ever imagined that snow crab would become the key component of the Newfoundland and Labrador fishing industry. Yet 40 years later, that�s exactly what has happened," said the Honourable Tom Rideout, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. "We must never lessen, nor cease to recognize, the tremendous contribution that this fishery has made."

In 1967, snow crab was a problematic by-catch to the then-dominant cod fishery. Since that time, however, the crab fishery has grown to a level at which it is indeed the mainstay of the fishing industry in this province.

The Provincial Government has organized a gala dinner that will be attended by numerous industry representatives, many of whom are pioneers in the crab fishery and all of whom have played a major role in its development. Richard Cashin, a former president of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers, will deliver the keynote address, and the evening will feature other presentations and commentary that will collectively recognize 40 years of fishing, processing and marketing crab in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Minister Rideout added that the snow crab fishery became particularly crucial following the closure of the northern cod fishery in 1992.

"Following the cod moratorium, the fishing industry in Newfoundland and Labrador was indeed devastated," continued Minister Rideout. "As we were all looking for a way forward, the crab resource experienced a massive increase and the value of that resource grew dramatically. This provided the fishing industry with a tremendous opportunity to recover."

During the 1990s, the snow crab fishery has grown to the point where currently there are upwards to 39 crab processing licences in the province and it represents about 75 per cent of the enterprise revenue of many harvesters.

The minister acknowledged that while challenges indeed remain in the industry, it is crucial to reflect upon past successes. "Indeed, crab came through for the province when we needed it most," continued Minister Rideout. "We must all remember that significant opportunities still exist for the Newfoundland and Labrador fishing industry, and we must all work together to explore these opportunities. This is indeed worthy of recognition."

In the 2007fishing season, snow crab represented 15.1 per cent of landed volume and 35.3 per cent of landed value. "This is a major leap forward from 1987, when snow crab represented only 1.3 per cent of landed volume and 4.4 per cent of landed value. That�s a staggering shift to take place in any industry in a 20-year period," said Minister Rideout.

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

2007 11 27                                                  10:30 a.m.


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