Fisheries and
Aquaculture
June 19, 2009
Province Working
Toward Long Term Solution for Lobster Fishery
The Federal
Government has acknowledged the province�s request to recognize the
unique circumstances in Newfoundland and Labrador and to use part of the
federal aid package for rationalization in the provincial lobster
fishery.
The Honourable Tom
Hedderson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, just returned from
meetings in Ottawa on this issue. The meetings were with the Atlantic
Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (ACFAM), which includes
federal Minister Gail Shea, the other Atlantic Canadian fisheries
ministers and the minister from Quebec.
�I brought forward
the idea of implementing programs that are based on regional needs and
the federal representatives were receptive to this,� said Minister
Hedderson. �This is important because we are faced with unique
circumstances in our lobster fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador. While
we have only five per cent of the Atlantic Canadian lobster in terms of
value, we have 30 per cent of the licences in this province. Incomes are
extremely low in the lobster fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Rationalization will have to be an important component of addressing any
issues in the provincial lobster fishery. We simply have to get the
number of lobster licences down.�
The ACFAM met
briefly with the leaders of three of the federal parties, Prime Minister
Stephen Harper, Michael Ignatieff and Jack Layton. They also met with
the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade, the
Atlantic Conservative Caucus and the Standing Committee on Fisheries and
Oceans. The ACFAM also participated in a launch event for an Atlantic
lobster promotional program, which included 300 participants.
�There is still a
lot of work to be done,� said Minister Hedderson. �While the Federal
Government has pledged a total of $75 million there are still many
questions that have to be answered. Criteria to qualify for aid still
need to be set and our government encourages the federal Department of
Fisheries and Oceans to do this as quickly as possible.�
At present, the
Federal Government has allocated $15 million to be administered through
Services Canada for those in immediate need. Another $10 million will be
administered by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency for marketing
and promotion. Finally, $50 million will be administered by the
Department of Fisheries and Oceans to address issues in the lobster
fishery over the long-term.
�My department will
work with industry to develop proposals and submit them to the Federal
Government in relation to the programs that will be needed to address
the challenges of reducing the number of licences,� said Minister
Hedderson. �I have directed my officials to meet with the industry
regarding this matter in the near future.�
Representations were
also made on Employment Insurance during the meetings. However, the
Federal Government in no way seemed receptive to addressing the problems
in the lobster fishery through this program, the minister noted.
�While it is
recognized that the $75 million allocated is a small amount to address
all of the challenges facing the Atlantic lobster fishery, my department
will now be working with the Federal Government to achieve the best
value we can for the funding that is available,� said Minister Hedderson.
�Our government will also work with industry representatives to leverage
maximum value for the programs that are available.�
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Media contact:
Lori Lee Oates
Director of Communications
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
709-729-3733, 690-8404
oatesll@gov.nl.ca
2009 06
19 4:45 p.m.
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