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ST. JOHN’S -- The Honourable Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced a new five-year $17.5 million strategy to combat foreign overfishing.
Under the strategy, Canadian aerial surveillance and at-sea patrols will be expanded to guard important fishing grounds for straddling fish stocks outside Canada’s 200-mile nautical limit in the Atlantic Ocean. Information collected from this expanded enforcement activity will assist Fishery Officers to conduct targeted investigations against vessels engaged in illegal fishing activity.
"The Government of Canada recognizes that non-compliance by foreign fleets outside the 200 mile limit is a serious problem. Blatant disregard for the priority of conservation cannot and will not be tolerated," said Minister Regan. "Six of the nine groundfish stocks managed by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) are under moratoria, there are increasing indications that vessels from some member countries of NAFO deliberately fish for these threatened species. This is totally unacceptable."
The new investments will result in the reactivation of a Canadian Coast Guard vessel and the deployment of more off-shore enforcement officers. The number of at-sea patrol days in the NAFO Regulatory Area will increase 40 per cent -- to 625 days from the current 445 days.
The expanded patrol activity is supported by a new five-and-a-half year $51 million air surveillance contract with Provincial Airlines Ltd., announced earlier today.
The comprehensive strategy also includes greater co-operation with DND for increased sharing and integration of positional data from Vessel Monitoring Systems, air surveillance and at-sea inspections to identify and gather evidence against suspect vessels. "This allows both departments to put their vessels and aircraft where and when they are most needed," said Minister Regan.
Minister Regan also spoke about the importance of the United Nations Fisheries Agreement (UNFA), recently ratified by the European Union. "I am prepared to take the required action, including using tools provided by UNFA, where warranted."
"The provisions of UNFA hold flag states accountable for non-compliance by their vessels. It also provides a stronger at-sea boarding and inspection system, and adds an important binding dispute settlement mechanism," said Minister Regan.
"Canada also intends to keep using its port access policy to encourage foreign vessels to comply with all fishing regulations in order to retain the privilege of docking at Canadian ports. Through information gathered through surveillance activities, we believe that rogue vessels continue to overfish in NAFO waters. We are establishing a list of rogue vessels, which I will be releasing shortly and we will be updating periodically. Canada will not look favorably at providing access to our ports to vessels on this list."
Diplomatic interventions will be another important aspect of the new strategy. "We will increase our bilateral discussions with other countries. We will focus on non-compliance and press for follow-up action," said Minister Regan.
The backgrounders related to this announcement are available on Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s website at www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media_e.htm
Backgrounders:
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
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Steve Outhouse
Manager, Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
(613) 998-1530 |
Geneviève Gareau-Lavoie
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
(613) 992-3474 |
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NR-HQ-04-21E |
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