Fisheries and Aquaculture
May 7, 2014

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture:

All-Party Committee Demands More Equitable Shrimp Quota Allocations

I rise in this Honourable House to discuss efforts by the all-party committee to address inequitable shrimp quota allocations recently announced by the Federal Government on April 4, 2014.

Mr. Speaker, over the last two days I was joined by the leaders of both provincial opposition parties to make presentations to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, and the Senate Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans. United, we conveyed the concerns and feedback we received from fisheries stakeholders, and made recommendations that would achieve better outcomes for all the rural communities that depend on economic activity generated by the inshore fleet.

We called on the Federal Government to rescind previous allocation decisions based on the “Last In, First Out” policy, and establish a new sharing arrangement between the inshore and offshore through a process that is consistent with those applied to other fisheries.

We asked the Federal Government to ensure that this sharing arrangement considers adjacency and reflects the history of both fleets in the northern shrimp fishery.

We requested an immediate, full scientific assessment on the northern shrimp resources, and asked that full assessments occur annually during this time of apparent resource decline.

Mr. Speaker, we also called on the Federal Government to implement a plan to study the impact of climate change on the ecosystem and the northern shrimp resources.

Mr. Speaker, the Provincial Government is pleased to have the support of members of all parties in the House of Assembly on this key issue of importance to the provincial economy and to rural communities. I want to take this opportunity to thank committee members: the Minister of Natural Resources and MHA for the Isles of Notre Dame; the Member for Port de Grave; the Member for Bonavista North; the Leader of the Official Opposition and Member for Humber Valley; the Member for The Straits – White Bay North; and the Leader of the New Democratic Party and Member for Signal Hill – Quidi Vidi for the time and insights they are providing.

I also want to thank the Minister of Education and MHA for Grand Bank; the Member for Baie Verte – Springdale; the Member for Carbonear – Harbour Grace; and the Member for St. John’s East, all of whom were very active as alternate members.

Together with industry, the business community, and municipal leaders, this government will press that case in the weeks ahead.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

2014 05 07         2:15 p.m.