The Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, today announced the members of the steering committee for the Agreement on Fishing Industry Restructuring. The members will direct and oversee the process of implementing the agreement that was reached by stakeholders to the province�s fishing industry in July and build on the established groundwork of the Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy. The committee will include representatives from the Fish Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) and Association of Seafood Producers (ASP). It is estimated that the total cost of implementing the agreement for the Provincial Government will be up to $800,000.

"The newly appointed members have significant knowledge and expertise in either the harvesting or seafood processing sectors, as well as general business and seafood marketing," said Minister Hedderson. "I am confident that the new members of the steering committee will be able to contribute to meaningful dialogue on important issues impacting the province�s fishing industry."

Thomas Clift, Associate Dean (Academic) at the Faculty of Business Administration, Memorial University, has been selected as the independent chair of the steering committee. As chair, he will manage and facilitate the working group process and bring forward recommendations for consideration by the Provincial Government. Professor Clift was selected in consultation with the parties to the agreement.

"Tom Clift certainly brings a wealth of experience in marine sectors, industrial organization and international marketing," said Minister Hedderson. "We are all very pleased that he has agreed to accept the challenge of working with the fishing industry to address the issues related to industry restructuring."

The other members of the steering committee are Earle McCurdy and David Decker from the FFAW; and, Greg Viscount, Karl Sullivan and Derek Butler from ASP. The steering committee and working groups will also receive support from senior officials within the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

The parties to the agreement have also been appointing working groups to conduct a financial analysis of the industry, and address issues of seafood marketing and industry restructuring. As well, the parties have been working together to develop terms of reference for the process.

"This agreement builds significantly on the work that we started with Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy," said Minister Hedderson. "A great deal of work has already been done, a lot of investment has been made and a number of fishing industry policy initiatives have been put in place by the Williams Government. This agreement will complement the strategy while helping to reshape the industry and meet the challenges of the modern global economy."

For the past 30 years, Tom Clift has been an active teacher, researcher and consultant in the area of marketing management and strategy. He has consulted with a variety of companies in the marine communications, geo-technical engineering and biotechnology sectors in Atlantic Canada. He has worked on the 2007 business case for cod aquaculture, and completed strategic planning work for the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association and Canpolar Inc. on the development of a mince washer and fish freshness biosensor. He has also developed national strategic marketing plans for large-scale geotechnical centrifuge modeling, virtual remote operating vehicles and on digital mapping and charting for the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Hydrographic Service. He has also been recognized, internationally, for his research in the area of technology commercialization and strategy implementation.

Professor Clift is currently a member of the board of directors of NALCOR Energy, St. John�s Sports and Entertainment Ltd. and the provincial chapter of the Special Olympics. He is also a former member of the board of directors of the Johnson GEO Centre. He has also worked in association with such companies as Arthur D. Little Inc. of Cambridge, Massachusetts and 3M Canada Inc. of London Ontario. He has worked at Memorial University for more than 25 years, having taught in the Faculty of Business Administration, the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science and the School of Human Kinetics and Recreation. He is currently Associate Dean (Academic) for the Faculty of Business Administration.

Earle McCurdy has served the members of the FFAW-Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) in Newfoundland and Labrador in various capacities since he joined the union in 1977. Beginning in a staff position, Mr. McCurdy went on to fill the role of secretary-treasurer for a period of 13 years. He eventually became the FFAW�s president in June 1993, taking over the job from the then-retiring Richard Cashin. He was recently returned by members for what will be his seventh term as the head of the union.

In addition to leading the FFAW, Mr. McCurdy also serves as president of the Canadian Council of Professional Fish Harvesters, sits on the boards of several groups and organizations, including the CAW national executive board and is a Canadian commissioner for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization.

David Decker is a native of Ship Cove on the Northern Peninsula. Like many Newfoundlanders coming from rural communities, he got his start in the province�s fishery in a direct, hands-on manner by operating a small-boat family enterprise in his home community for more than 14 years.

Mr. Decker went on to handle duties as the FFAW/CAW west coast staff representative from 1991 to 2002 and became the union�s Inshore Director in 2002. In 2003, he was elected to the position of secretary-treasurer, the second highest position in the FFAW. He continues to serve the Newfoundland and Labrador fishing industry in that capacity today.

Karl Sullivan has spent the last 20 years as a senior executive with the Barry Group of Companies, during which time the company has grown from a single fish plant to being one of the largest fishing companies in Atlantic Canada.

Mr. Sullivan�s previous experience includes 13 years with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, filling various positions in the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Executive Council. In this capacity, he studied the fishing industry in European nations. He has also been a consultant to the Canadian International Development Agency in three African countries and served on the board of directors of numerous organizations.

E. Derek Butler is the chair of the board and executive director of ASP. He joined the association at its founding in 2004. He also serves on various industry boards including One Ocean and the Business Coalition. He is responsible for the operations of the association, board management, industry and government relations, and public policy.

Mr. Butler began his professional career with Foreign Affairs Canada, later working with the Canadian Institute for Peace and Security. He later worked as a legislative aid the Parliament of Canada, in the offices of the chief government whip, the national caucus chairman and the government leader in the senate.

Immediately prior to working with ASP, Derek served as resident director of the Washington-based National Democratic Institute for International Affairs in the Middle East and North Africa, with shorter stints in west and central Africa. Derek also teaches as a sessional lecturer at Memorial University where he completed a Master of Arts degree in political science.