Government of Canada Advocates Continued Action on Sustainable Management of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
Government of Canada Advocates Continued Action on Sustainable Management of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
Juin 02, 2010
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The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today issued the statement below, following the conclusion of informal meetings held in Barcelona, Spain between a number of Atlantic bluefin tuna-harvesting countries. Canada along with other participating countries re-affirmed their commitment to implementing the concrete measures to which they agreed at the last annual general meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) in November 2009:
“When harvesting Atlantic bluefin tuna, scientific advice must be followed and the rules strictly enforced if we want to ensure the survival of the stocks. I have continued to reiterate this message both publicly and in bilateral discussions with other countries. It’s relatively simple, but it requires political will and the commitment to follow through. I have communicated this point clearly to my ICCAT counterparts once again in recent correspondence.
“Canada has led the way over the last several years in following the science advice and implementing the recommendations of ICCAT. Our Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery is the best managed fishery of its kind in the world today, and we are starting to see the positive results of those efforts. Additionally, Canada's Ambassador for Fisheries Conservation has been actively engaged in bilateral discussions with ICCAT member countries, including those not present at the Barcelona meetings, to demonstrate Canada's commitment to stronger management of Atlantic bluefin tuna.
“ICCAT Members agreed to important, concrete measures in November 2009, and they must now follow through on these commitments. Most importantly, ICCAT Members who fish Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna must adhere to ICCAT scientific advice and take decisive action on conservation and management, such as the full implementation of the Catch Documentation System, a more effective management of fishing effort, and complete and accurate reporting. The implementation of those measures is absolutely needed for the sustainability of Atlantic bluefin tuna stocks.
“Ultimately, the responsibility lies with individual States to implement concrete and achievable measures in order for regional fisheries management organizations to be truly effective and successful. That’s what we expect from each and every ICCAT Member. We are encouraged to see our partners holding firm on their commitments, and I intend to continue to work in the interests of Atlantic bluefin tuna and the responsible Canadian fishers who depend upon it.”
Canada Calls on ICCAT to Take Definitive Action to End Overfishing of Eastern Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
Canada Calls on ICCAT to Take Definitive Action to End Overfishing of Eastern Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
March 25, 2010
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OTTAWA – The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, issued the following statement today, at the conclusion of the Fifteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES):
“Canada's position on the management of Atlantic bluefin tuna has been clear from the beginning. We are committed to the conservation of the Atlantic bluefin tuna and we maintain that the appropriate body to manage and conserve these stocks is the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). A listing under CITES would not have prevented the ongoing overfishing of the Eastern and Mediterranean stock, where the most urgent protection is needed, as fishers would have continued to fish at high levels to meet domestic demand in the European Union and elsewhere.
As such, Canada supports the final outcome of the CITES Conference of Parties, but views it first and foremost as a call to action. The state of the Eastern and Mediterranean stocks is dire, and we share the concerns of the international scientific community in this regard.
Canada has acted on these concerns and today, our Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery can be considered the best managed fishery of its kind in the world. We expect no less from all the other parties to ICCAT, and we intend to hold them accountable.
CITES parties who opposed the listing are also ICCAT parties. Therefore, we now look to ICCAT parties to continue to strengthen conservation and management measures and live up to their commitments and obligations, particularly those parties with the greatest harvesting and import levels.
ICCAT Members made important progress at their last annual general meeting in November 2009, but more action is needed to keep the momentum. Most importantly, ICCAT Members, particularly those who fish Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna, must take concrete and decisive action on conservation and management, adhere to ICCAT scientific advice, and help put an end to overfishing.
This will require political will on all sides, and I intend to engage my counterparts in ICCAT, beginning today, to ensure that the next annual meeting lives up to the world’s expectations and the commitments made in Doha to rebuild this most important stock.”
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Canada's Economic Action Plan
Minister Shea Takes Action to Ensure Funding Flows to Lobster Program
November 16, 2009
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Ottawa – The Department of Fisheries and Oceans launched the Short-Term Transitional Measures program on September 22, 2009 to assist qualified low-income lobster licence holders who have experienced financial hardship due to the global economic downturn of 2007-2009. Since launching the program, DFO has distributed more than $4.8 million to almost a thousand lobster harvesters in communities throughout Atlantic Canada and Quebec.
“I am grateful that we have been able to provide some short-term support to those lobster fishers most severely impacted over the past year and I encourage those who have not yet applied to do so,” said the Honourable Gail Shea, federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. “Looking at the long term, the major focus of our investment is the development of a self-reliant and economically viable lobster sector. It is encouraging to note that we have healthy and sustainable lobster stocks throughout Canada’s eastern shores that we can build on for the future. I am also pleased to note several recent developments, such as the founding of the Lobster Council of Canada, that signal a real sea change in the industry.”
As of November 8, 987 applications have been approved for total funding of $4,848,772. About 95% of that has already been disbursed in cheques to harvesters in Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces.
Canada’s Atlantic lobster industry employs about 30,000 Canadians, while lobster exports generate more than $1 billion worth of revenue each year. The Government of Canada has provided more than $75 million in new funding to the industry in 2009.
Applicants can apply to the STTM program until January 31, 2010. For information about this program, visit: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/lobster.
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For more information:
Alain Belle-Isle
Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
613-990-7537
Nancy Bishay
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-992-3474
Minister Shea Announces Appointment of David Balfour to Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization
Minister Shea Announces Appointment of David Balfour to Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization
October 5, 2009
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OTTAWA – The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced the appointment of Mr. David Balfour as Government Commissioner and Head of Canada’s Delegation at the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO).
“I am pleased that Mr. Balfour has accepted to serve as Canadian Commissioner and Head of Delegation to NAFO,” said Minister Shea. “His considerable experience and his in-depth knowledge of the complex issue of international fisheries will continue to prove important assets for Canada.”
Founded in 1979, NAFO is a regional fisheries management organization made up of 12 Contracting Parties (11 countries and the European Union). It is responsible for the management of nine fish species of the Northwest Atlantic, in international waters outside Canada’s 200 mile limit. The Government Commissioner to NAFO is the head of the Canadian delegation that represents Canada at the organization.
Mr. Balfour holds a Bachelor’s Degree (Honours) from Carleton University and is a Certified General Accountant. He has published articles in the Journal of World Fisheries Congress and the Policy Options journal. Mr. Balfour also received a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Margarita Lizárraga Medal in 2001 for his leadership in establishing the Canadian Fishing Industry Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing Operations.
Mr. Balfour currently serves as Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Fisheries and Aquaculture Management, at Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Cantin
Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-993-5413
Nancy Bishay
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-992-3474
FISHING INTO THE FUTURE – THE HERRING FISHERY IN EASTERN CANADA
FISHING INTO THE FUTURE – THE HERRING FISHERY IN EASTERN CANADA
Moncton N.B. - The Fisheries Resource Conservation Council released today to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, its strategic conservation framework for Atlantic herring entitled Fishing into the Future: The herring Fishery in eastern Canada.
During the 2008 winter months, the FRCC held a series of 15 public consultations with stakeholders throughout Atlantic Canada and Québec. The Council also received written briefs from interested parties.
The report provides 10 recommendations aimed at identifying actions that can be taken by governments and the herring industry to secure sound management and harvesting practices. During its consultations, the FRCC asked stakeholders to provide input on science, fishing practices, management and the ecosystem.
Given the diversity of the fisheries that rely on herring as a resource (i.e. weir fishery in the Bay of Fundy, bait fisheries for lobster and snow crab fisheries, a commercial herring fishery and others) the Council looked at general weaknesses and strengths in the fisheries. The goal was to provide advice to support a sustainable harvest. The recommendations are directed at the conservation and management of fisheries.
The FRCC’s recommendations take into account the realities of the fisheries and the resources available to both industry and Fisheries and Oceans. The recommendations suggest minimum measures that should be adopted in all areas. Such measures include implementing a minimum of one abundance indicator for each stock and recommending that objectives be set through a series of Integrated Fisheries Management Plans.
Hence, Council’s advice is general in nature with the exception of recommended action for 4T spring spawning herring. The Council has determined that this resource is in a critical state and immediate action should be taken to further protect and restore 4T spring spawning herring.
Council recognizes the importance of sourcing herring as bait in support of such key fisheries as the lobster, crab, tuna fisheries, etc. The Council also recognizes the importance of accounting for all removals in order to provide proper scientific assessment.
The Council recommends the renewals of all the Fishery Management Plans for herring. The FRCC outlines the importance of herring as a forage species and is suggesting that industry and DFO incorporate an ecosystem based approach to decision making. The risk assessment
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approach will provide a process by which industry would identify potential threats to the resource and fisheries and allow for mitigating measures to counter any negative impacts, including those of human activities outside the fisheries.
“Many recommendations are directed towards increasing shared decision-making between DFO and stakeholders,” noted Mr. Jean Guy d’Entremont, Chairman of the FRCC. The report also highlights the problems associated with poor fishing practices. “Unfortunately, despite efforts from some harvesters and processors, Atlantic Canada herring has a poor reputation on the international market. Industry, DFO and provinces need to establish ground rules aimed at fostering a higher quality product which will result in increased benefits to all,” added Mr. d’Entremont.
Finally, the FRCC recommends that a policy for closed area be developed through an open and transparent process. The Council has acknowledged the use of closed areas for management and conservation purposes. It is of the view that DFO should establish a clear policy and provide guidance to industry based on long-term objectives.
The full text of the report is available on the FRCC’s website at www.frcc-ccrh.ca.
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For more information:
Arthur Willett
Executive Director
FRCC
(613) 998-0433
Canada to Pursue WTO Consultations in Response to European Union’s Seal Products Ban
July 27, 2009 (10:45 a.m. EDT)
No. 208
Canada to Pursue WTO Consultations in Response to European Union’s Seal Products Ban
The Government of Canada is acting to protect the Canadian families and communities that will be hurt by the European Union’s regulation to ban trade in seal products.
The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, and the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, announced today that the Government of Canada will request World Trade Organization (WTO) consultations on the seal products ban.
“I stated that the Government of Canada would launch a WTO challenge should a seal products trade ban not include an acceptable exemption, and today I am following through on that promise,” said Minister Day. “I will continue to defend the right of Canadian sealers to provide a livelihood for their families as they have done for centuries, through a hunt that has repeatedly been proven to be humane, sustainable and lawful.”
WTO consultations represent the first stage in the WTO dispute settlement process. Consultations provide the parties with an opportunity to resolve a dispute through formal discussions. If consultations fail to resolve the issue, the matter can be referred to a WTO dispute settlement panel.
On July 27, the European Council of Ministers adopted a regulation effectively banning the sale of seal products to the European Union. The legislation does not contain an exemption clause for humanely harvested seal products, and it specifically prohibits the marketing of products resulting from sustainable and humane commercial hunts. The Government of Canada views this as a violation of the EU’s WTO commitments under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade.
“The scientific evidence is clear that the Canadian seal hunt adheres to rigorous standards of animal welfare,” said Minister Shea. “Sealing provides crucial jobs in many Aboriginal, northern and coastal communities where other economic opportunities are often limited. By caving in to pressure from professional anti-seal-hunt lobby groups, the European Union has taken a short-sighted and irresponsible action that will hurt thousands of Canadians. Our government has consistently defended the rights of Canadian sealers to pursue a living and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to protect their livelihoods from this unjustified and indefensible ban.”
The new request for consultations is linked to an existing dispute. In July 2007, Canada launched WTO consultations with Belgium and the Netherlands on their respective seal product bans. Consultations were held on November 11, 2007. Those consultations did not resolve the matter, however, as both countries are members of the European Union. Canada will seek to resolve both matters through discussions with the European Commission.
Canada will be in a position to submit its request for consultations with the European Communities in the coming weeks, once the Canadian government has fully reviewed the final European Council of Ministers’ decision.
Further information about the WTO dispute settlement process can be obtained from the WTO website. For information on Canada’s sealing industry, please visit Canada’s 2009 Seal Hunt.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Mélisa Leclerc
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
613-992-6186
Nancy Bishay
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
613-992-3474
Trade Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-996-2000
2009 Gulf of St. Lawrence Fisheries Management Decisions
2009 Gulf of St. Lawrence Fisheries Management Decisions
June 16, 2009
On June 16, 2009, the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, announced a number management decisions affecting the following fisheries in the Gulf of St. Lawrence:
Northern Gulf cod (3Pn4RS)
The 2009 Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for northern Gulf cod will remain at 7,000t. This decision took into account scientific information and input from the fishing industry.
Southern Gulf cod (4TVn)
There will be no directed commercial fishery for southern Gulf cod (4TVn) in 2009. A TAC of 300t has been set for by-catch, Aboriginal and recreational fisheries and scientific surveys. The decision to close the fishery was based on the most recent scientific assessment, which shows that this cod stock is at a historically low level and is continuing to decline.
Impact of seal predation on southern Gulf cod
The department’s most recent peer-reviewed scientific assessment indicated that grey seal predation appears to be a significant component of the very high mortality rates of cod in the southern Gulf. Based on these findings, Minister Shea has directed the department to ensure the targeted removal of grey seals that are preying on southern Gulf cod as part of its conservation approach. The science assessment is available at: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/CSAS/Csas/Publications/SAR-AS/2009/2009_007_e.htm
Gulf Shrimp – Group B
For 2009, an allocation of 15% was previously announced for the Group B Gulf shrimp fleet. Beginning in the 2010 fishing season, a permanent allocation of 13.5% for the Group B Gulf shrimp fleet will be introduced. The stabilization of this sharing arrangement will support the rationalization plans of both the groundfish and traditional shrimp fleets, and improve the ability of fishers to make business planning decisions.
For further details about the decisions, visit http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/decisions/index-eng.htm
Minister Shea announces 2009 fisheries management decisions for the Gulf of St. Lawrence
Minister Shea announces 2009 fisheries management decisions for the Gulf of St. Lawrence
June 16, 2009
OTTAWA – The Honourable Gail Shea, Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced a number of management measures including northern and southern Gulf Cod and sharing arrangements for Group B Gulf Shrimp.
“Today’s announcements reflect our Government’s commitment to ensuring the long-term economic viability and sustainability of fisheries in the Gulf,” said Minister Shea. “These measures are aimed at rebuilding stocks and increasing fairness and stability for fishers from across the region this year and for seasons to come.”
Minister Shea announced the following management measures for the Gulf of St. Lawrence:
Closure of the directed commercial fishery for southern Gulf cod; A Total Allowable Catch of 7,000 tonnes for northern Gulf cod; Direction by the Minister to the department to ensure the targeted removal of grey seals; and Stabilization for the 2010 fishing season of a permanent allocation for the Group B Gulf shrimp fleet of 13.5% “By taking these steps now to address the health of cod stocks, we are protecting the future of the Gulf fishery. This is the right thing to do,” said Minister Shea.
Canada’s Economic Action Plan also provides a range of measures to assist resource dependent communities during this difficult time by improving access to credit for harvesters, processors and buyers, as well as improvements to many small craft harbours and significant investments in the Coast Guard.
STATEMENT BY MINISTER SHEA
STATEMENT BY MINISTER SHEA - ECONOMIC VIABILITY
OF CANADA'S EAST COAST LOBSTER FISHERY
OTTAWA – The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today issued the following statement:
Today, I met with my provincial counterparts from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and a number of industry representatives from the Maritimes to discuss the serious challenges faced by the lobster fishery, as well as opportunities to ensure the continued viability of this valuable contributor to the Canadian economy.
There’s no question that current markets for lobster are challenging. Every lobster fishing group and association has expressed this concern. Today’s meeting identified several options for improving the situation, including finding ways to manage supply. I fully support efforts by industry and my provincial counterparts to improve market access for lobster, and I am optimistic that, working together, we will deliver concrete results. All of the participants in today's meeting recognize the need for immediate action to secure Canadian lobster in the global marketplace. Officials at both levels of government are working with industry on a range of marketing activities targeted at increasing the profile of Canadian lobster in wholesale, retail and food service markets.
The Government of Canada is providing support to industry sectors that are feeling the impacts of the global economic crisis. Our Economic Action Plan will help resource-dependent communities through initiatives such as the two-year, $1-billion Community Adjustment Fund, which can help by supporting economic diversification in communities affected by the declining global demand for seafood. We have also acted to improve access to credit for fishing enterprises, and to provide tax relief for small businesses.
It’s also clear that we must also look beyond short-term fluctuations in landings and market conditions to long-term conservation of lobster resources. If we don’t manage our fisheries in a sustainable manner, we will put the economic benefits we derive from them at risk. During recent consultations with lobster harvesters and fishing organizations, including a meeting in Moncton on February 11, most groups highlighted the need for a rationalization program as well as additional conservation measures. We will continue to work with the industry to provide flexible tools to reduce their operating costs and pressures on lobster stocks.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Phil Jenkins
Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
613-990-7537 Ann Matejicka
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa, 613-992-3474
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