Fisheries and Aquaculture
April 5, 2014
Fair Distribution of Fish Resources is Vital to the Economy
Provincial Government Calls On Federal Government to Not Apply LIFO to Shrimp Cuts
The Federal Government has announced significant cuts to provincial shrimp quota allocations, and in choosing to apply its “Last In, First Out” policy, almost all of these cuts will be experienced by small boat operators in the inshore fleet. The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, expressed the Provincial Government’s dismay at federal quota allocations that are inequitable and unbalanced.
“Inshore harvesters are full stakeholders in the shrimp sector. They have made major investments in their operations and they have made significant contributions to the success of the provincial fishing industry, and so it is unfair to deny them access to the resource on the basis that they were the newest entrants to this fishery more than 20 years ago.”
- The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture
The Provincial Government has advocated against the “Last In, First Out” policy since 2010, emphasizing the position 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.
“While we respect that fisheries science indicates a quota cut was necessary, the application of that cut needs to be fair. Both the offshore and inshore sectors are valued contributors to the provincial economy, and so it is important for quota decisions to reflect that, instead of unduly impacting one fleet sector. We ask the Federal Government to revisit this decision with more consideration to the effect that allocations will have on inshore harvesters, processing workers, and businesses that support the fishery, all of whom create important economic activity in rural areas.”
- Minister Hutchings
The Provincial Government is currently analyzing the anticipated impacts of the federal quota decisions and will be meeting with industry leaders in the coming days to determine the best ways to address this challenge.
QUICK FACTS
- The Provincial Government is expressing dismay with the Federal Government’s decision to apply its “Last In, First Out” policy when making significant reductions to provincial shrimp quotas.
- There are more than 250 small boat enterprises in the inshore fleet sector of the province’s shrimp fishery.
- There are more than 2,200 plant workers who also stand to be impacted by this decision.
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Media contact:
Jason Card
Director of Communications
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
709-729-3733, 699-0470
jasoncard@gov.nl.ca
2014 04 05
9:25 a.m.