Fisheries and Land Resources
August 3, 2017

Provincial Fisheries Advisory Council Holds Productive First Meeting

Newfoundland and Labrador’s newly formed Fisheries Advisory Council held its first meeting today, beginning its work to maximize the value of available fish resources to the provincial economy through a collaborative stakeholder approach.

As outlined in The Way Forward, the council will focus on both current and emerging strategic fisheries and aquaculture matters, including a new strategic action plan on cod revitalization that focuses on environmental sustainability, harvesting, processing, quality, innovation and marketing.

Today’s meeting brought members together for the first time to introduce perspectives and discuss initial considerations. This included discussion of implications related to the development of an action plan on cod revitalization – an important first step in supporting the industry’s transition to groundfish.

The provincial Fisheries Advisory Council includes representation from all sectors, including the Fish, Food and Allied Workers, the Association of Seafood Producers, Seafood Processors of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Newfoundland and Labrador Aquaculture Association, the Marine Institute and the general public. The federal department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada is also represented on the council with an ex-officio member.

The Chair and at-large appointments to the council have been made through the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s merit-based appointment process established by the Independent Appointments Commission Act.

Quotes
"Today’s first meeting of the provincial Fisheries Advisory Council marked an important milestone for reinvigorating Newfoundland and Labrador’s seafood industry. We have weathered challenges and change before in this province, and we will do so again by coming together to develop a new strategy that responds to declining shellfish stocks with an industry-wide shift to rebounding groundfish resources."
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources

“It is a distinct privilege for me, and the members of the Fisheries Advisory Council, to have the opportunity to participate in the development of policies and strategies to achieve the maximum benefits for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador in the anticipated transition to a predominantly groundfish fishery.”
Bill Wells
Chair, Fisheries Advisory Council

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Learn more
Fisheries and Land Resources: www.flr.gov.nl.ca/index.html

Appointment of Chair: www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/ffa/0309n04.aspx 

Appointment of At-Large Members: www.releases.gov.nl.ca/releases/2017/ffa/0707n03.aspx 

Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL and @FLR_GovNL

Media contact
Rod Drover
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-729-3783, 730-4607
rodneycdrover@gov.nl.ca

2017 07 03                             3:05 p.m.