Fisheries and Aquaculture
October 6, 2008

Significant Trade Offs for Modest Gains Once Again
Compromise Provincial Objectives at NAFO

While some modest gains were achieved at NAFO 2008, the outcomes demonstrate the need for the Federal Government to provide a system of custodial management for the Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks says the Honourable Trevor Taylor, acting Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. This year�s NAFO meetings were held in Vigo, Spain.

"The fact that Canada had to transfer 1,000 tonnes of its yellowtail flounder to the United States in order to secure various conservation and management objectives is further evidence that the Federal Government must pursue custodial management," said the minister. "It is simply not acceptable for the Federal Government to be trading off fish stocks that we depend on, for foreign interests. This demonstrates that the Federal Government is willing to trade off our fish. The yellowtail and American plaice stocks are essentially Canadian fisheries which occur within Canadian waters. Yet Canada had to negotiate with 11 other NAFO members in order to manage these stocks."

Some of the decisions taken by NAFO included maintaining the Greenland halibut total allowable catch (TAC) at 16,000 tonnes, increasing the by-catch of American plaice in the yellowtail fishery from five to 13 per cent, increasing the 3LNO yellowtail flounder TAC by 1,500 tonnes to 17,000 tonnes, and increasing the 3L shrimp TAC from 25,000 to 30,000 tonnes. The 3LNO fisheries are located on the Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks.

The 2009 TAC for Greenland halibut will remain the same at 16,000 tonnes. This is a concern for the Provincial Government because the province had proposed that NAFO adhere to its 2003 rebuilding plan.

"Adhering to the rebuilding plan would have struck a balance between the divergent views of scientists and fish harvesters by effecting a 15 per cent reduction in the 2009 harvest levels. NAFO has again ignored the advice of its scientific council on Greenland halibut, establishing a harvest level well-above the recommended advice," said Minister Taylor. "Furthermore, we are concerned by reports of the scientific council that indicate over fishing and violations are as bad as ever."

The 5,000 tonne increase in the 3L shrimp TAC will largely benefit the Newfoundland and Labrador based inshore fleet. This is a fishery that is located off the east coast of the province.

"The continued growth in this allocation is welcome news for our shrimp harvesters," said Minister Taylor. "However, the ongoing misreporting of NAFO area 3L shrimp as 3M shrimp, by foreign vessels, remains a serious concern which has not yet been addressed by NAFO.

"The adjustment in by-catch levels for 3LNO American plaice in the yellowtail fishery is welcomed, given that the Canadian industry could not continue to operate the fishery with only a five per cent by-catch allowance. The American plaice stock, particularly in NAFO areas 3NO (on the Tail of the Grand Bank) is recovering and the increased by-catch flexibility reflects the reality that these two fisheries have historically been fished together.

The Federal Government has been working on changes within NAFO. "These changes can hardly be considered improvement when they continue to negatively impact our province and our stocks," said Minister Taylor. "Even if those changes are ratified by the other member states, this would still provide nowhere close to the benefits that would be delivered to the province through custodial management. For this reason, we expect the Federal Government to deliver on its promise of custodial management."

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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

2008 10 06                                                     4:55 p.m.


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