Proposed amendments at the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) threaten not only to further erode the sustainability of fish stocks, but also serve to institutionalize the ability of other nations to impose their management over stocks inside of Canada�s sovereign 200-mile limit, said the Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador today. The Premier has written to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and requested that the Federal Government instruct officials to refuse ratification of the draft NAFO Convention and launch a formal objection. Arctic waters, the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the coastal waters off Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are all left vulnerable and exposed to this issue.

"I have recently been briefed by former Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) officials and other NAFO experts, and I am convinced that the proposed amendments could be detrimental to the ability of our country to protect and conserve our fishery resources inside of our 200-mile limit," said Premier Williams. "Despite assurances by the Federal Government that the amendment proposed would never be used, we simply cannot as a sovereign nation agree to any wording that opens the door for such action. I am at a loss to understand why Canada would agree to an amendment that was drafted by EU officials be allowed to proceed. Particularly in these times when Canada is dealing with issues of Arctic sovereignty, we cannot as a country in any way allow for the potential of other nations to make decisions about what happens inside of our 200-mile limit."

Premier Williams said that despite an earlier request from the Provincial Government for tightening of the amendment, new information has assured the province that the only course of action that is acceptable to the province and indeed the country as a whole, is to refuse ratification of the amendments.

"I have sent my letter to the Prime Minister, to Atlantic Canadian Premiers, the Premiers of Quebec and Nunavut, leaders of the national parties and other Newfoundland and Labrador provincial and federal politicians," added Premier Williams. "Time is of the essence in this matter as the amendment is moving through the NAFO processes. We must act quickly and decisively to ensure our sovereignty is protected within the 200-mile limit."

Premier Williams� letter to the Prime Minister is available at: //www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2009/exec/Sept_11_Harper_Letter.pdf

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