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Fisheries and Aquaculture
December 11, 2009

Province Calls on Government of Canada to Follow Vote of Own Parliament

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is calling on the Government of Canada to follow the vote of its own House of Commons and reject the amended Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) convention. Last night the Canadian parliament voted in favour of a motion to concur with the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans. The committee recommended that the Federal Government not ratify the amendments. Unfortunately, the Government of Canada is not obligated to follow the results of the vote by its Members of Parliament on this important matter.

"Clearly, there is a lot of opposition to these amendments." said the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. "The majority of Members of Parliament are against the proposed changes to the NAFO convention. As well, a Standing Committee of the House of Commons has recommended that the Government of Canada notify NAFO of its objections to the amended convention."

Minister Jackman has spoken with the Honourable Gail Shea, federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. The views of the Provincial Government have been clearly expressed on this matter. The Provincial Government has made representation on this issue to the Federal Government on a number of occasions, including two letters from the Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, to Prime Minister Harper. As well, the former provincial Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture appeared before three committees of the Government of Canada in Ottawa.

"Minister Shea advised me yesterday that the Government of Canada intends to ratify the proposed amendments to the NAFO Convention, regardless of the vote on the report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans," said Minister Jackman. "Ignoring the will of parliament in this case will be at the peril of the fishing industry in Newfoundland and Labrador for many years to come. Canadian control over fisheries inside the 200-mile exclusive economic zone can be compromised if these amendments proceed."

NAFO is an organization which has demonstrated a lack of willingness to follow scientific advice and a clear lack of commitment to fisheries conservation and sustainable fisheries management. At this year�s NAFO meeting in Bergen, Norway, NAFO members did not follow recommendations of their own Scientific Council related to a number of stocks, including Greenland halibut, 3M cod, redfish and 3LNOP white hake and skate. At a special meeting of NAFO in London, England, in November, the organization decided against closing the Flemish Cap fishery in NAFO area 3M, despite warnings from the NAFO Scientific Council that the stock has collapsed and that the fishery should be closed.

"Obviously, custodial management is the only viable solution for proper protection of Canadian fish stocks," said Minister Jackman. "It will always be problematic for Canada to have to vote with 11 other countries to gain protection of fish stocks off our shores. Clearly, the approach taken by the Federal Government in dealing with NAFO is not working in the best interest of Canadians. The Federal Government should reject these amendments, which will erode Canadian sovereignty within the 200-mile exclusive economic zone, and respect the advice of its own Parliament and the recommendation of its own committee."

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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

2009 12 11                                                      2:20 p.m.
 


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