NR-MAR-00-11

September 12, 2000

AMENDMENT TO VESSEL REPLACEMENT RULES FOR FULL BAY OF FUNDY SCALLOP FLEET

Dartmouth N.S. - Neil A. Bellefontaine, Regional Director-General, Fisheries and Oceans, Maritimes Region, today announced that vessels used by the Full Bay of Fundy scallop fleet can now be replaced with any vessel less than 65' (19.8 m). This fleet has been under an Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) program since 1997 and the change is consistent with recent decisions in other ITQ programs.

The Full Bay of Fundy scallop fleet has made significant progress in fleet reduction and is now subject to 100% dockside monitoring, Mr. Bellefontaine stated. In terms of conservation, there is no longer a reason to restrict the replacement of the vessels used by this fleet.

Representatives of the Full Bay of Fundy scallop fleet requested in March 2000 that DFO amend the rule which stated that vessels could only be replaced by ones in the same 5' (1.5 m) length interval. The request was supported by the Inshore Scallop Advisory Committee and the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

This amends Section 24 I (20) of the Commercial Fisheries Licensing Policy for Eastern Canada. The most restrictive vessel replacement rule will continue to apply for vessels to which more than one licence is issued.

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For More Information:

Jim Jamieson
Senior Advisor
Fisheries & Oceans Canada
(902) 426-8981

Wendy Williams
Communications
Fisheries & Oceans Canada
(902) 426-6409