Summit of the Sea Official Opening
Premier Tobin's Address
September 1, 1997

It is with pride and pleasure that I, on behalf of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, welcome those of you who are visitors to this province, as well as extending a warm greeting to everyone here this evening. It is also my privilege to declare The Summit of the Sea officially open.

The sea has been central to the development of this land from time immemorial. The aboriginal people sustained themselves with the resources of the land and the sea for hundreds of years before the arrival of other settlers - taking only what they needed to survive.

This year we are celebrating the 500th anniversary of John Cabot's landfall here in 1497. The Italian explorer, known in his homeland as Giovanni Caboto, set out on a mission of exploration in the name of King Henry VII of England. He was searching for the riches of the West Indies. He didn't find those, but the riches he did find are reported to be almost beyond belief.

Logs from Cabot's journey report that he arrived in this New Founde Lande on June 24, 1497. But it was not the awesome beauty of the land, or the relief at the end of the journey that captured the attention of Cabot and his crew. It was the richness of the sea beneath their tiny ship, the Matthew. It is reported that the crew of the Matthew lowered baskets over the side of the ship and pulled them up time and time again, teeming with fish. Some reports even go so far as to claim the boat's progress was halted by the quantity of fish in the waters around Newfoundland and Labrador.

Cabot brought these reports back to England. And that historic landfall, 500 years ago, marked the beginning of European settlement in North America. The reason for this settlement was the bounty of the sea - fish. At first, there was a migratory fishery. But soon, year-round settlers made these craggy shores their homes, choosing where to settle, not because of the breathtaking scenery, but simply because of proximity to the fishing grounds. A tour around this province today will show this to remain true, five centuries hence. Brightly painted, clapboard houses cling to the shore, as the salt sea continues to ebb and flow, as it has for thousands of years.

The fishery has always been, and remains, an integral part of the social and cultural fabric and structure of Newfoundland and Labrador. For many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, the fishery is not just an occupation, but a way of life.

The story of the development of Newfoundland and Labrador is detailed and rich, and in many ways, unique. But in many ways, the story of this land is the story of the sea and its abundant fisheries.

For almost 500 years, we have lived from the sea. And for almost 500 years, the resource was able to replenish itself and remain as rich as it was in the days of Cabot. But abundance led to the perception that the oceans' resources were inexhaustible - a perception that technological advancement proven to be untrue. The challenge has changed from trying to maximize the exploitation of the resource to the daunting task of rebuilding, conserving and managing the resources of the oceans. It is our goal. It is our responsibility. It is our duty.

Each generation is granted fleeting stewardship of our oceans and seas. And during our time as guardians, we must do our best to manage those resources for future generations.

This Summit is a momentous occasion. It has gathered together some of the foremost policy and scientific minds to discuss conservation and management of our ocean resources. Together we must confront the challenge before us - that is, the sustainable development of our oceans' resource. This Summit is another step in ensuring that our children may also utilize the oceans' resources. For if they learn by example, it is by example that we must teach.

EVOLUTION OF OUR FISHERY

From the earliest days, fishers in small boats went out from the land each day to fish. For hundreds of years, this remained the practice. But with the passage of time came technological advancements - better equipment, and faster, larger vessels.

Until the 1950s, it can be said that the Northern Cod Fishery was prosecuted in a sustainable manner, with annual catches ranging from 250,000 to 300,000 tonnes per year. But the 1950s brought further advancements, one of which was the factory freezer trawler. By 1968, catches of Northern Cod had increased to 810,000 tonnes - 687,000 of which was caught by foreign vessels. These vessels, which were once limited by time and distance, became limited only by the size of their cargo hold. This meant that foreign vessels could now fish with ease in the waters of the Grand Banks.

The capacity of the world's fishing fleet continued to increase during the 1950s through the 1960s. Catches increased, the number of boats increased and the frequency of trips to the fishing grounds increased. And the results of unrestrained fishing were becoming evident in the declining state of the stocks.

The Bruntland Commission, 1987, recognized the seriousness of the problems facing our oceans' resources:

Today, living marine resources of the sea are under threat from over exploitation, pollution, and land based development. Most major familiar fishing stocks throughout the waters over the continental shelves, which provide 95 per cent of the world's fish catch, are now threatened by overfishing.

Canada has long been party to conservation efforts. From participation in the Conference on the Law of the Sea, to membership in NAFO, to participation in other United Nations efforts, Canada has recognized the importance of international cooperation in managing the fish stocks.

The seriousness of the problem of foreign overfishing gave rise to the Law of the Sea Conference, mandated to find ways to protect the common heritage of mankind. Canada joined the third Conference on the Law of the Sea, and as a result, in the late 1970s, a 200 mile limit was established by Canada and other coastal states.

While the 200-mile limit brought about a dramatic reduction in foreign overfishing activity for most areas, it did not solve all the problems for Newfoundland and Labrador. The Grand Banks of Newfoundland are not completely encompassed by the 200 mile limit. Both the nose and the tail of the Grand Banks, as well as an area known as the Flemish Cap, are outside the 200 mile limit. Unfortunately, fish swim, and fish stocks do not recognize this arbitrary line. Foreign exploitation outside the line in nursery areas undermine the integrity of the whole stock.

In 1979, NAFO, the North Atlantic Fisheries Organization, was created to regulate the straddling stocks outside the 200-mile limit. During the early 80s, conservation measures were imposed based on scientific data, harvest levels were set accordingly, and it seemed as though the resources were rebuilding. Through the late 1980s, Canada took external action to build conservation efforts. We promoted the development of international law, as well working with fishing nations through the United Nations to promote more responsible harvesting. We also took legal initiatives.

But in 1985, there was considerable pressure on the stocks as the EU's largest members began to over-exploit the resource.

The Earth Summit in 1992 resulted in the establishment of the United Nations Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. More than 80 states actively participated from April 1993-1995. Thanks, in large part, to the efforts of Ambassador Satya Nandan of Fiji, these meetings were successful, resulting in the 1995 Agreement on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. The principal elements of the 1995 Agreement include: stronger rules for conservation of straddling stocks; new powers for enforcement of conservation of straddling stocks; and binding and compulsory dispute settlement of international fisheries disputes.

What is necessary now, is for 30 nations to ratify this agreement in order for it to come into effect. To date, 14 nations have done so. I take this opportunity to implore world leaders, including those of Canada, to hasten the process to ratify this agreement.

By the 1990s, it became abundantly clear that most of the straddling stocks in the northwest Atlantic were on the brink of collapse. The Northern Cod, which, for five centuries, had supported the fishery, had been fished to the point of extinction.

The spawning biomass of a species is used as an indicator of how viable the stock remains. The recommended spawning biomass for Northern Cod - that is codfish, age 7 years and over - is 1,200,000 tonnes. In 1992, the spawning biomass was estimated to be 48,000 tonnes. In 1994, it was 19,000 tonnes.

With this reality we also moved to address problems inside our own 200-mile limit - to put our own house in order. On July 2, 1992, Canada imposed a moratorium on Northern Cod. The rage and frustration of the 30,000 displaced fishers and fish plant workers of Newfoundland and Labrador was immense. Suddenly, after almost 500 years of fishing for their dinner tables, for their livelihood, these people were told they could fish no more.

The gross overfishing of the straddling and highly migratory stocks on the Grand Banks, not only by EU nations, but also by vessels operating under flags of convenience continued. Even while Canadian fishers and vessels were pulling up because of the moratoria, foreign fishing on the Grand Banks continued at approximately the same levels as it had for years - with 40-50 vessels fishing at any one time.

If anyone here has looked into the eyes of a fisherman since 1992, you will see that there is something missing. They still go down to the wharves. They stand, with that wide legged stance of a seaman, and watch. They are looking at the sea and the sky and the odd boat that skims by. But what they are actually seeing is the destruction of a way of life, the destruction of a resource and the sad legacy that we must to pass on to our children.

But there is hope. Already it seems that conservation efforts are paying off for specific areas of stocks. The Canadian Government has allowed a limited commercial fishery on the south and west coasts of the island. But it will take more time, and more effort for the stocks to renew. The renewal of those stocks is today our greatest challenge.

Meanwhile, recent history can illustrate the need for immediate action. The Government of Canada has taken decisive action since 1994, to address the problem of foreign overfishing.

Because it was necessary, the Government of Canada has taken action against vessels on the nose and tail of the Grand Banks which were deemed to have overfished, taken undersized catches, and employed illegal netting methods.

Because of the necessity to act, in May 1994, the Canadian Parliament unanimously passed Bill C-29, the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act. This Act gave Canada the right to take unilateral action, where necessary, against foreign vessels overfishing stocks outside the 200-mile limit on the Grand Banks.

In the spring of 1995, when I was the Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, we evoked Bill C-29 to protect the Greenland Halibut stocks, also known as turbot.

The end result of Canada's unilateral action was the Turbot Agreement. And since 1995, independent observers have been placed on all vessels to ensure compliance with NAFO rules.

SOUND STEWARDSHIP

1998 is the International Year of the Ocean. This designation recognizes the importance of the ocean, the marine environment and its resources for life on earth and for sustainable development. This year will provide an opportunity for effective, cooperative discussion about what actions we must undertake to fulfill our responsibility of sustaining the ocean and its resources.

The Summit of the Sea, while not taking place in 1998, can be considered one of these opportunities for discussion. We are lucky to have gathered here leaders in oceans' research and policy from around the world. Hopefully, the discussion around the table here in Newfoundland and Labrador will be the beginning of a year of new ideas, fresh discussion and unparallel cooperation.

My esteemed colleague, the Canadian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, David Anderson will tomorrow unveil the Ocean Charter. I am proud that Canada has agreed to sponsor the Ocean Charter. It clearly encompasses our commitment to the future of the ocean and all life associated with it.

While our goal is a simple one - to restore and maintain the resources of the ocean to sustainable levels, achieving that goal not quite as simple. It takes continued investment in scientific research and oceans' study. It takes commitment by industry and government leaders. And more importantly, it takes global cooperation. The ocean and its resources are for everyone. And with that privilege comes the responsibility for sound stewardship.

We have come to a point here in Newfoundland and Labrador where we remember the bounty of the past, and are living with the consequences of the mistaken belief - on the part of all countries - that the oceans' resources had no limit. We have the knowledge to begin to rebuild the oceans. Imagine being part of a generation that never knew the riches of the sea. If we do not act now, our children and our grandchildren may have to rely on pictures in history books and stories handed down from the men and women who remember the ways of the fisher people. To them, nets full of fish and a living wrought from the sea will sound like a fairy tale. It is our duty to make sure that it remains a reality.