The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is pleased that the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans has decided that it is not in the best interest of Canada to ratify the proposed amendments to the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) convention. The committee is recommending that the Government of Canada not ratify the amendments to the NAFO convention and that Canada notify NAFO of its objection to the amendments. The amended convention was tabled in the House of Commons on June 12. Canadian control over fisheries inside the 200-mile exclusive economic zone can be compromised according to the terms of the proposed amendments.

"This should be a clear message to the Federal Government that they need to rethink their position," said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. "Our government recommends that the House of Commons support the committee�s recommendation and vote against the amended convention. Furthermore, the Government of Canada should file a formal objection with NAFO regarding the proposed changes to the convention."

Minister Hedderson appeared before the committee in September. He also appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans and the House of Commons Standing Committee on International Trade.

"I was pleased to appear before the committees and present the position of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador on these very important matters," said Minister Hedderson. "I believe our presentation helped the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans to come to its conclusion, which acknowledges that serious concerns were raised by our Provincial Government. I would also like to thank everyone else who presented to this and other committees. I am sure all of the input was invaluable in their deliberations."

These proposed amendments are particularly problematic, given the decisions that NAFO has made in the past. Some of the member states have a clear disregard for the sustainable management of North Atlantic fish stocks. The NAFO decisions taken at the annual meeting in September, and regarding 3M shrimp on November 16, demonstrate that conservation of fisheries resources is not a priority for many NAFO member states. These decisions were taken with clear disregard for scientific advice.

Beyond the problems with these amendments and recent decisions, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has a fundamental problem with NAFO. Within this system, Canada must negotiate with eleven other member states on the conservation of fish stocks that straddle the 200-mile limit.

"Our government continues to ask the Federal Government to pursue custodial management as the best option for fisheries management in this country," said Minister Hedderson. "Much work remains to be done to increase the management responsibilities for Canada over straddling stocks, which are important to the province. The Government of Canada�s efforts to reform NAFO have clearly failed. That makes it all the more important to quickly move forward with pursuing a system 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