NR-M-98-13E

CO-MANAGEMENT INTIATIVE FOR SCOTIAN SHELF SHRIMP

May 28, 1998

Halifax -- David Anderson Minister of Fisheries and Oceans today announced a co-management intiative for Scotian Shelf shrimp. This new arrangement consisting of a five year (1998-2002) Integrated Fisheries Management Plan and Joint Project Agreement has been endorsed by the Atlantic Canadian Mobile Shrimp Association.

I am pleased to see the industry take a greater role in the management of the fishery and to participate in scientific assessments and fisheries management activities. This sharing of management responsiblities represents the sort of cooperation which I believe is essential for DFO and industry. Co-operative management is a key element of the strategy for the fishery of the future.

This fishery occurs annually off the coast of Cape Breton Island in shrimp fishing areas, 13, 14, and 15. For 1998, the TAC will be set at 3,800 t. The existing Scotia Fundy and Gulf based fleets will receive a quota of 3,500 t. Temporary allocations of 300 t will be made available in 1998 for additional participants. This allocation will be divided on the same basis as the existing allocations; 75 % to Scotia Fundy interests and 25 % to Gulf based fleets. These temporary participants will remain in the fishery as long as resource and market conditions allow.

Within the Scotia Fundy sector, 225 t will be made available as five temporary allocations, one of which will be issued to a native community. A public draw will be held for the four other participants. Applicants for the draw must meet the following criteria:

• Homeport: have been a fisher with an Eastern Nova Scotia homeport in 1997.
• CORE participation: possess or acquire a groundfish mobile gear core enterprise licence, which was active in Eastern Nova Scotia at the start of the groundfish moratorium
• Preferential Adjacency: Licences will be drawn on a county basis, for each county adjacent to the shrimp fishing area, as follows: Guysborough/Richmond counties: 2; Cape Breton county: 1; Victoria/Cape Breton/Richmond/Guysborough/Halifax counties: 1.

Further details on the draw will be announced shortly and coordinated through the office of the area manager of Eastern Nova Scotia.

Within the Gulf sector the 75 tonnes available for temporary allocations will be distributed to participants selected from existing shrimp licence holders who do not currently fish on the Scotian shelf.

Conservation measures will be as stated in the Integrated Fisheries Management Plan, licence conditions and the Atlantic and Maritimes Fishery Regulations. This fishery will be monitored by DFO to ensure resource conservation is maintained.

Conservation is my primary goal. The measures announced today as part of the Integrated Fisheries Management plan can be modified at any time to ensure my conservation goals are achieved, Anderson said.

For information:

Greg Peacock
Maritimes Region
Fisheries and Oceans
Halifax, Nova Scotia
(902) 426-2583

R.C. Thompson
Maritimes Region
Fisheries and Oceans
Sydney, Nova Scotia
(902) 564-2400