SHARING OF THE SNOW CRAB TEMPORARY ALLOCATION PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
MONCTON (N.B.) - The Department of Fisheries and Oceans
(DFO) announced today the sharing and the eligibility criteria
pertaining to the snow crab temporary allocation in Crab Fishing
Area 12 for Prince Edward Island.
On April 18, 1996, DFO announced the 1996 snow crab management
plan in Area 12. The management plan authorized a temporary allocation
of 435 metric tonnes to Prince Edward Island. This allocation
was to be shared between the inshore and the groundfish-dependent
fishers following a joint agreement. The representatives of the
Prince Edward Island Fishermen Association (PEIFA) and the Prince
Edward Island Groundfish Association (PEIGA) have asked DFO to
intervene in order to resolve the deadlock in the negotiations
to allow the harvesting of the allocation as soon as possible.
With the exception of the groundfish fishers, those who received
a temporary allocations in 1995 will not be eligible to the program
in 1996. The sharing of the temporary allocation will be divided
into 3 priority groups based on their level of groundfish dependency
and their fishing activity in 1995.
- The first priority group consist of groundfish fishers who
didn't participated or participated on a very limited basis in
the snow crab fishery in 1995. This group will receive individual
allocations of 20,000 lbs.
- The second priority group, consisting of groundfish fishers
that had a significant participation in the snow crab fishery
in 1995, will receive individual allocations of 10,000 lbs.
- The third priority group, consisting of bonafide/core fishers
who have been successful in a draw will receive individual allocations
of 15,000 lbs.
It is estimated that the groundfish-dependent fishers meeting
the criteria of the first and second priority group will receive
36.5% of the total temporary allocation.
All allocation holders from the three priority groups will be
allowed to pool together or participate in charter operations
to a maximum of 100,000 lbs.
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For information :
H.H. (Hank) Scarth
Area Manager
Fisheries and Oceans
Charlottetown, P.E.I.
(902) 566-7810
André-Marc Lanteigne
Acting/Director of Communications
Fisheries and Oceans
Moncton, N.B.
(506) 851-7757
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