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OTTAWA – The Honourable Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced the creation of a joint Canada-Maritimes Action Team on Cod Recovery. This team is comprised of senior officials from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), and from the provincial fisheries departments of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
The first order of business for the working group will be to identify measures to be considered in the development of a long-term cod action plan, with initial focus on for the 4TVn stock in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.. It will also establish the time lines within which the action plan will be implemented.
"I am encouraged to see continued commitment on the part of provincial governments to work with DFO to ensure cod stock conservation. This shows that provinces recognize the need to adopt a broader collaborative approach to ensure the recovery of cod stocks," said Minister Regan. "Input is also being sought from other stakeholders through similar bilateral processes that have been put in place in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as in Quebec."
Federal and provincial officials will meet with industry representatives in the upcoming weeks to seek their advice on the development of a cod recovery plan. These meetings are meant as a forum to discuss long-term cod recovery measures only, and are not set up to deal with this year’s cod fishery.
Minister Regan welcomed the high degree of collaboration under way in finding ways to improve the cod stocks. "Progress is being made. We now have joint action teams working away in Newfoundland and Labrador, in Quebec and in the Maritimes. As well, industry representatives and First Nations are being consulted. I am confident that this process will bring together common themes and objectives which will guide our long-term planning and eventually make cod recovery a reality."
The essential elements of a cod recovery plan will include the establishment of stock rebuilding objectives, the requirements for an ecosystem approach and the identification of science objectives and priorities.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
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Sophie Galarneau
Manager, Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
(613) 998-1530 |
Brian Underhill
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
(613) 992-3474 |
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NR-HQ-04-06E |
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