External Review of Gulf of St. Lawrence Halibut Fishery
TO: Atlantic Halibut Industry Stakeholders
As was announced on May 13, 201 1, an external review of the Gulf of St. Lawrence Atlantic halibut fishery will be undertaken in the coming months to review the methodology, process used and considerations employed in the definition of inshore geographical fleet shares for the
Gulf of St. Lawrence inshore fixed gear Atlantic halibut fishery and determine if they were consistent with the departmental approaches used to
define shares in other fisheries. In addition, the Review will also assess if other factors or approaches should have been considered in the
establishment of the fleet shares for this fishery. A copy of the Terms of Reference is provided for your reference.
In selecting the successful company, priority was placed on an independent firm with strong auditing capabilities and with experience related to the
fishery. An open and transparent process was used to select the company, which I can now confirm is Ernst and Young.
The results of the Review will inform approaches, as appropriate, for any future adjustments that may be required to fleet shares beginning with the
2012 fishery. Stakeholders will be provided the opportunity to participate in person or in writing. Please note that I have directed that all submissions
and interventions related to this review will be made public, along with the final report to me.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Adam Burns at
(613) 993-1879.
Yours sincerely,
Attachment
Keith Ashfield
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Minister Shea Provides Fishers With Long-term Economic Benefits
Minister Shea Provides Fishers With Long-term Economic Benefits
CHARLOTTETOWN, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND--(Marketwire - March 4, 2011) - Today, the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, announced changes to the licensing policy for the Atlantic Canada and Quebec inshore fishery to allow for the issuing of licences to wholly owned companies. The new policy will go into effect on April 1, 2011.
"Our Government is committed to building a foundation of economic strength for Atlantic Canada and Quebec's coastal communities by providing the inshore fleet with more flexibility in their financial dealings, while at the same time continuing to preserve the independence of individual inshore fishers," said Minister Shea.
The new policy authorizes qualified fishermen to request, on a voluntary basis, the re-issuance of their eligible licences to their wholly-owned company. The new policy on issuing licences to companies was developed following extensive consultations with industry members and with tax, legal and financial experts. It is consistent with the Government of Canada's policy on Preserving the Independence of the Inshore Fleet in Canada's Atlantic Fisheries (PIIFCAF). It supports an independent and economically viable inshore fleet, responds to the needs identified by fishers, and respects the long-standing owner-operator and fleet separation policies at the foundation of Eastern Canada's inshore fishery.
Eligibility criteria and information about the re-issuance process will be sent to independent core licence holders and are also available on the DFO website at www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
Backgrounder:
-- Issuance of Inshore Licences to Companies.
For broadcast:
Minister Shea today announced changes to the licensing policy for the Atlantic Canada and Quebec inshore fishery that will allow certain commercial fishing licences to be issued to companies instead of individuals. When the new policy takes effect on April 1, 2011, qualified licence holders will be able to ask for their licences to be re-issued to their wholly-owned company. This change will provide the inshore fleet with more flexibility in their financial dealings, and allow them to benefit from the advantages of incorporation that are available to other small businesses in similar industries, while at the same time continuing to preserve the independence of individual inshore fishers.
Internet: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
Frank Stanek
Media Relations
613-990-7537
or
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Office of the Minister
Kate Davis
Press Secretary
The Government of Canada Provides $3 Million to Two Lobster Harvesting Groups to Implement Sustainability Measures
The Government of Canada Provides $3 Million to Two Lobster Harvesting Groups to Implement Sustainability Measures
October 13, 2010
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ÎLES-DE-LA-MADELEINE, QUEBEC – The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced that a total of $3 million has been provided to the Regroupement des pêcheurs professionnels du sud de la Gaspésie (RPPSG) and the Association des pêcheurs propriétaires des Îles-de-la-Madeleine (APPIM) through the Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Measures program to help the groups implement new measures in the Quebec lobster fishery. This will build on their previous efforts towards sustainability.
“These two lobster harvesting groups are among the first ones to receive funding to implement sustainability projects in their Lobster Fishing Areas,” said Minister Shea. “This is an important step forward for conservation and improved economic viability of Canada’s lobster fishery over the long term.”
The APPIM has received $1.9 million to implement their project proposal, which covers Lobster Fishing Area 22. This funding will allow the Association to put in place an electronic logbook pilot project with a view to future full implementation. The APPIM will also carry out an artificial reef project with the goal of increasing ecosystem productivity and a plan to reduce the limit on the number of traps permitted to be used by three lobster traps per fisher per year annually until 2014.
The RPPSG has received $1.1 million for its project proposal, which covers Areas 19–21. Elements of the project include the retirement of 11 licences and the introduction of an electronic logbook system improve monitoring of fishing activities and control of bycatches. The RPPSG will also conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility of introducing a dockside monitoring system for their fishery.
Up to $50 million is available to industry groups under Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Measures program.
“This program is a key part of our Government’s recent efforts to help the lobster industry adapt to new global market requirements through restructuring and the adoption of stronger conservation measures,” added Minister Shea.
The Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Measures program covers all Lobster Fishing Areas in Atlantic Canada and Quebec.
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For more information on the Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Measures program, visit: www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/lobster.
For more information:
Michel Plamondon
Senior Communications Advisor
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Quebec region
Quebec, Quebec
418-648-5419
NR-QR-10-45E
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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