May 7, 2014
Protecting the Fishery and Rural Communities
All-Party Committee on Federal Shrimp Quota Allocations Demands Better Outcomes in Ottawa
The all-party committee on federal shrimp quota allocations delivered presentations this week to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, and to the Senate Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, which conveyed the need to immediately rescind recent shrimp quota allocations by the Federal Government. The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Chair of the All-Party Committee, was joined by Dwight Ball, Leader of the Official Opposition, and Lorraine Michael, Leader of the New Democratic Party, in making the presentations.
“The presentations delivered by the all-party committee will ensure Members of Parliament and Senators are fully aware of the tremendous negative impact that recent federal shrimp allocations will have. This will ensure debate on this issue in Ottawa is fully informed with our province’s position, and creates the opportunity for the committees to engage the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans on this issue. The all-party committee made four recommendations to the committees when we presented, and we expect the committees to advance these recommendations to Minister Shea.”
- The Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture
The four recommendations advanced by the all-party committee were:
- To eliminate the “Last In, First Out” policy (LIFO) and establish a new sharing arrangement between the inshore and offshore through a process that is consistent with those applied to other fisheries;
- To ensure that this new sharing arrangement considers adjacency and reflects the history of both fleets in the northern shrimp fishery;
- To carry out an immediate, full scientific assessment on the northern shrimp resources, and that full assessments occur annually during this time of apparent resource decline; and,
- To implement a plan to study the impact of climate change on the ecosystem and the northern shrimp resources.
“The status of northern shrimp resources off our coast is crucial. We need to ensure the fishery is properly managed to the benefit of Newfoundland and Labrador, while at the same time protecting the resource. Our province has now spoken as a single voice, backed by all three elected parties with the intention of convincing the Federal Government to rescind its decision on shrimp allocations. The first step must be to immediately eliminate LIFO and work with the province to establish a new sharing arrangement for northern shrimp stocks.”
- Dwight Ball, Leader of the Official Opposition
The presentation delivered by the all-party committee was informed by consultations that the committee carried out with a variety of stakeholders in the provincial shrimp sector.
“It was an honour to be part of representing the people of Newfoundland and Labrador on the all-party committee. The points we made appeared to be heard by the members of the standing committees in Ottawa; I am cautiously optimistic that the federal government will see fit to reverse its decision so that this year’s shrimp fishery can work more equitably for everyone.”
- Lorraine Michael, Leader of the New Democratic
The province’s inshore fleet is expected to commence shrimp harvesting activity later this month, subject to ice conditions.
QUICK FACTS
- The all-party committee on federal shrimp quota allocations asserted the Provincial Government’s position that federal shrimp quota allocations must be rescinded in presentations to federal committees this week.
- More than 100 communities in which inshore shrimp harvesters and plant workers reside will be impacted by federal allocation decisions.
- The total landed value of shrimp harvested by the province’s offshore and inshore sectors in 2013 was $187 million.
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Media contacts:
| 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 carlafoote@gov.nl.ca |
| Jean Graham Director of Communications New Democratic Party Caucus Office 709-729-2137, 709-693-9172 jeangraham@gov.nl.ca |