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NLIS 1
July 5, 2000
(Fisheries and Aquaculture)

 

Efford says DFO neglecting its fisheries responsibility

Fisheries Minister John Efford expressed grave concern today about the poor state of several of our fish stocks saying if the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans doesn�t act quickly the entire Newfoundland and Labrador fishing industry will be in jeopardy.

The minister�s latest concern is the result of recent reports of fewer salmon returning to Newfoundland rivers this year.

"We are told there is an unknown source of mortality in the offshore areas... but I have to ask the question: How much more talking do we have to do about seals before this major problem is addressed? Recently, there has been ongoing concern about many of our fish stocks, including groundfish, capelin, herring and now it�s the Atlantic salmon," said Mr. Efford.

DFO scientists continue to suggest environmental factors may be playing a large role in the decline of our stocks, said Mr. Efford, but they fail to put enough emphasis on the predator/prey relations in the ecosystem.

"We know that seal populations, high-end level marine predators, are well above historic numbers, but science refuses to acknowledge the unquestionable negative impact the seal populations are having on the fish stocks from which thousands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians derive their living."

The province and even the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council (FRCC) have continually made representation to DFO to address the unprecedented high seal populations, said Mr. Efford. "DFO�s refusal to act on these concerns is blatant neglect by the Government of Canada of its duty to responsibly manage our East Coast fish stocks."

Mr. Efford said he has feared the possibility of a total destruction of our fish stocks and as new information becomes available, such as the report on salmon returns, it appears that his fear may become a reality.

Media contact: Sonia Glover-Sullivan, Communications, (709) 729-3733.

2000 07 05                             3:10 p.m.


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