Government marks 10^th Anniversary of the Northern Cod Moratorium

Premier Roger Grimes and Gerry Reid, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, joined with industry, union and community representatives today, to mark the 10 year anniversary of the Northern Cod Moratorium. The premier and Minister Reid were joined on Confederation Hill by Alastair O�Reilly, president of the Fisheries Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (FANL), Earle McCurdy, president of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW), John Efford, MP for Bonavista-Trinity-Conception, Randy Simms, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities (NLFM), Bernice Duffett, a plant worker from Port Union, and Bill Broderick, a fish harvester from St. Brendan's, Bonavista Bay.

"The Northern Cod Moratorium was a significant event in Newfoundland and Labrador," said Premier Grimes. "Despite the moratorium, the people in the province endured and worked even harder, to diversify and revitalize the fishery. This has been a powerful testament to the spirit and tenacity of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and today we honour our people in the fishery."

The province, along with FANL and the FFAW, unveiled a plaque which reads:

For nearly 500 years the fishery sustained, employed, and defined the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. Generations of coastal people built a fishing society along thousands of kilometres of rugged coastline. On July 2, 1992, five centuries of fishing activity was abruptly halted. The northern cod moratorium altered the fabric of our province - economically, socially and culturally. Yet the people of our fishery endured. We honour their strength, determination and perseverance.

"The collapse of the groundfish fishery was an event that changed our province�s history, and a moment which most of us will never forget," said Minister Reid, "The fishery is a fundamental part of our way of life, and the moratorium forever changed the dynamic of the industry. Ten years later, we still do not have all of the answers, however, we have worked very hard to diversify and redefine the fishery. Our fishery today continues to be a major contributor to the provincial economy, however we cannot forget those people whose lives were forever changed by the moratorium. The plaque we have unveiled honours those individuals and will serve as a reminder for years to come."

Media contact: Elizabeth Matthews, Communications, (709) 729-3733, or (709) 727-3438.

2002 07 02                             12:40 p.m.