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OTTAWA – The Honourable Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced that he has asked the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council (FRCC) to provide him with advice on Atlantic cod stocks in the Gulf of St. Lawrence for 2004.
"I have requested that the FRCC provide advice to me, no later than April 22, on possible conservation approaches for Gulf cod stocks for the 2004-05 season," said Minister Regan. "It will be important for an independent body such as the FRCC to consider the views of the fishing industry and the scientific analysis."
In addition to providing its advice on conservation measures, including total allowable catches (TACs), the FRCC has been asked to present its views on whether a significant change has occurred in stock status since its last report and what the potential is for stock growth and recovery. The FRCC will also explore how shared stewardship and accountability might best be fostered in order to develop a risk managed approach to managing these stocks. The council will consider uncertainties regarding some scientific assessments and impediments to recovery when forming their recommendations.
Formal determination of stock status will be completed later this month for northern and southern Gulf cod stocks (fishing areas 4RS3Pn and 4TVn) for 2004-05 and provided to the FRCC at that time.
The Minister confirmed that he has not asked the FRCC to provide advice on the northern cod stock in fishing area 2J3KL off the east coast of Newfoundland and south coast of Labrador. These stocks, which were closed to fishing in 2003, remain at historically low levels and prospects for rebuilding are poor. Instead, the Minister has asked DFO officials to work with industry to develop a practical plan for the management of cod bycatch in these areas.
Cod recovery teams have been formed with the provinces to develop and implement a long-term plan for cod stock rebuilding, however, it was not intended that this work would be completed prior to the 2004-05 fishing season.
The FRCC was created in 1993 to provide advice to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans on conservation requirements for the Atlantic groundfish fisheries. The Council has already provided advice this year on groundfish stocks in two other areas: groundfish on the southeast coast of Newfoundland and Labrador (NAFO subdivision 3Ps); and on the Scotian Shelf.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
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Brian Underhill
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
(613) 992-3474 |
Sophie Galarneau
Manager, Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
(613) 998-1530 |
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NR-HQ-04-13E |
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