Fisheries and Aquaculture
March 5, 2010Minister Urges
Continued Movement Toward Solutions for Fishing Industry
Today, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, the
Honourable Clyde Jackman, encouraged continued vigilance
by all parties in moving forward to find solutions for
the long-term structural issues in the province's
fishing industry. In July 2009, the Provincial
Government, Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW), and
Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) signed a
Memorandum of Understanding MOU) regarding the long-term
development of the province's fishing industry.
"The progress toward finding solutions to address the
structural issues in the fishing industry has
unfortunately been slower than we initially
anticipated," said Minister Jackman. "I have asked the
chair of the MOU steering committee to convene a meeting
by the middle of next week, at which time all reports
and proposals will be presented. We are hopeful the
process will be completed with solutions proposed and
accepted by all parties over the next few months."
Since the signing of the MOU, representatives from
the FFAW and ASP have been providing input to the
process through working groups and a steering committee.
The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture has received
proposals for addressing the problems in the industry
from both the harvesting and processing sector
representatives this past January, with further
information coming forward from the FFAW in February.
These proposals are seeking a high level of financial
support from the Provincial Government and present
solutions that in the past have not proven to address
the long-term structural issues in the industry. In
addition, other submissions and correspondence have been
reviewed from industry stakeholders.
As well, a financial analysis of the industry is
being carried out by external consultants, with Grant
Thornton completing the analysis of the processing
sector and Deloitte completing the harvesting sector
analysis. Minister Jackman stated today that he expects
the financial analysis reports will be completed in the
near future.
When the financial analysis reports are received, the
working groups will be asked to consider the reports and
the proposals submitted to date. They will develop
recommendations for the steering committee, which will
conduct its own analysis of the reports and proposals.
"Our government's vision of the province's fishing
industry has always been a vision of a self-reliant,
viable, industry that provides income levels that are
attractive to its participants and young people," said
Minister Jackman. "This was the vision put forward in
the Fishing Industry Renewal Strategy and it continues
to be what people tell us they want from the province's
fishing industry."
The steering committee is being chaired by Professor
Tom Clift of the Memorial University's Faculty of
Business.
"This process has proven to be extensive and
challenging," said Professor Clift. "As chair, I now
have to work with the parties to forge consensus on the
programs and policies that can best achieve the
objective of the MOU."
Ultimately, the steering committee and proposals
arising from its analysis will be presented to the
Federal Government.
"While this process has taken a great deal of time, I
understand that the parties to the MOU are dealing with
very complex issues," said Minister Jackman. "I look
forward to hearing about their vision of the industry
and the potential solutions that they will bring
forward."
-30-
Media contact:
Lori Lee Oates
Director of Communications
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
709-729-3733, 690-8403
oatesll@gov.nl.ca
2010 03 05 10:35 a.m.