April 15, 2014
Seeking Fairness for Rural Communities
Structure of All-Party Committee on Federal Shrimp Quota Allocations Announced
A seven-member committee comprising members from all parties in the House of Assembly was established today to lead the Provincial Government’s efforts to address the unfair shrimp quota allocations recently announced by the Federal Government. The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, will Chair the committee, which held its first meeting this afternoon.
“The Provincial Government is pleased to welcome members of all parties in the House of Assembly today in our ongoing efforts to convince the Federal Government to remove the unfair ‘Last In, First Out’ policy from federal decisions on shrimp quotas. It is important that we stand unified against recent allocations that will threaten the economic well-being of rural communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Our initial meeting involved a briefing of all committee members to ensure a common understanding of the history and facts surrounding this issue, so that we can use this information to convince the Federal Government to rescind its inequitable allocations of shrimp, and achieve a better outcome for the rural communities who rely on this resource.”
- The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture
The Honourable Derrick Dalley, Minister of Natural Resources and MHA for the Isles of Notre Dame; Glen Littlejohn, MHA for Port de Grave; Eli Cross, MHA for Bonavista North; Dwight Ball, Leader of the Official Opposition and MHA for Humber Valley; Christopher Mitchelmore, MHA for The Straits – White Bay North; and Lorraine Michael, Leader of the New Democratic Party and MHA for Signal Hill – Quidi Vidi; join Minister Hutchings on the committee. Alternate members of the committee are the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Justice and MHA for Grand Bank; Kevin Pollard, MHA for Baie Verte – Springdale; Sam Slade, MHA for Carbonear – Harbour Grace; and George Murphy, MHA for St. John’s East.
“The impact of the announced reductions in the shrimp quota by the Federal Government will be devastating for people in the fishery in our province. This is why the Official Opposition has made the call for a provincial all-party committee to prepare recommendations as a result of the recently announced cuts to the shrimp quota. I am pleased that Government and the Third Party have agreed to support this motion.”
- Dwight Ball, Leader of the Official Opposition
The Provincial Government respects that fisheries science indicates a quota cut is necessary, but does not believe the application of that cut is fair to the province’s inshore fleet.
“We must show a united front to Ottawa on behalf of the people in the inshore fishery. I am happy to be working with my colleagues so we can let the Federal Government know just how serious this issue is – and how serious we, as elected representatives, are about it.”
- Lorraine Michael, Leader of the New Democratic Party
The Provincial Government has argued against the use of the Federal Government’s “Last In, First Out” policy since 2010. 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.
QUICK FACTS
- A seven-member all-party committee to address federal shrimp quota allocations held its first meeting this afternoon.
- The shrimp sector comprised more than 30 per cent of the landed value of the provincial fishery in 2013.
- 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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Media contacts:
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Jason Card Director of Communications Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture 709-729-3733, 699-0470 jasoncard@gov.nl.ca |
Carla Foote Director of Communications Office of the Official Opposition 709-729-6151, 691-6673 |
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Jean Graham Director of Communications New Democratic Party Caucus Office 709-729-2137, 693-9172 |
2014 04 15 5:10 p.m.