Fisheries and Aquaculture
April 14, 2014
Standing United for the Fishery
All-Party Committee Formed to Address Issues with Federal Shrimp Quota Allocations
As part of the Provincial Government’s response to the Federal Government’s decision in relation to quota allocations for northern shrimp that will unfairly impact the province’s inshore fleet, an all-party committee will be formed to ensure a strong, unified voice when advocating to the Federal Government for necessary change. The Honourable Tom Marshall, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, directed on Thursday, April 10, 2014, that an all-party committee be formed, which will engage all three of the province’s political parties on this key issue.
“The Provincial Government has been strongly against the Federal Government’s ‘Last In, First Out’ policy since 2010, as this policy forces inshore harvesters who became the newest entrants in the shrimp fishery in the 1990s to bear the brunt of quota cuts that are necessary to protect the stock. As this issue has serious implications for communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, it is important that all members of the provincial legislature join with industry stakeholders, the business community, and municipal leaders to seek a better outcome, and so I am very pleased to welcome the support of all parties in the House of Assembly.”
- The Honourable Tom Marshall, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
Under direction of the Premier, the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Justice and Government House Leader, has contacted both opposition parties to invite their participation on the all-party committee. Additional details regarding the initial meeting, structure and make-up of the committee, and plans for moving forward with a united voice on behalf of inshore shrimp harvesters and plant workers, will be released later.
“The shrimp sector comprised more than 30 per cent of the landed value of the provincial fishery last year, which underlines the importance of this fishery to the economy of rural Newfoundland and Labrador, and the need for federal quota allocations to be fairly shared between the province’s offshore and inshore fleets. I am pleased to see opposition parties joining with the Provincial Government in our advocacy, as this issue is too important to be politicized.”
- The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture
The Provincial Government’s position has always been that any federal decisions regarding shrimp quotas should consider which harvesters are adjacent to the resource, be consistent with stabilized sharing arrangements established for other fisheries and avoid pitting one valued fleet sector against another. The quota allocation decisions recently made by the Federal Government do not consider economic impact on rural communities, and will affect more than 250 small boat enterprises in the inshore fleet sector, more than 2,200 plant workers, and businesses throughout the province that supply the industry.
Since April 2010, the Provincial Government has expressed its position on the “Last In, First Out” (LIFO) policy to the Federal Government through official correspondence, in meetings with federal representatives, and through formal presentations. Premier Marshall has also written the Federal Government and asked that quota allocations based on the LIFO policy be rescinded. The Provincial Government will continue to press for action on this issue through the all-party committee. Specifics regarding the composition of the all-party committee will be finalized in the coming days.
QUICK FACTS
- An all-party committee will be formed to address issues regarding federal shrimp quota allocations.
- The total landed value of shrimp harvested by the province’s offshore and inshore sectors in 2013 was $187 million.
- Federal shrimp quota reductions for this year includes a cut of approximately 20 per cent to Shrimp Fishing Area six; the inshore fleet had its allocation reduced by approximately 10,000 tonnes, and the offshore fleet allocations was reduced by approximately 1,000 tonnes.
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Milly Brown Director of Communications Office of the Premier 709-729-3960 millybrown@gov.nl.ca |
Tracey Boland Press Secretary Office of the Premier 709-729-4304, 697-3128 traceyboland@gov.nl.ca |
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Jason Card Director of Communications Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture 709-729-3733, 699-0470 jasoncard@gov.nl.ca |
2014 04 14 12:55 p.m.