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OTTAWA — The Honourable Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and the Honourable Bill Graham, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that the Government of Canada is taking immediate and decisive action in response to illegal fishing by foreign fleets on the Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks.
The Government of Canada will commit an additional $15 million this year to further enhance Canada’s enforcement and surveillance program in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Regulatory Area to stop illegal overfishing and to finance Canada’s strategic agenda for changes to international fisheries governance.
Based on an analysis of activity in 2003, foreign fishing fleets illegally took about 15,000 tonnes (t) of fish protected by moratoria, including cod and American Plaice. Foreign vessels also fished more than 7,000t of Greenland halibut (turbot) and yellowtail flounder in excess of their legal quotas last year.
"We are appalled by this blatant disregard for international rules and obligations," stated Minister Regan. "The harvesting of this quantity of fish is reprehensible and preliminary scientific advice indicates that catches at this level could cause the virtual destruction of the moratoria stocks in three to five years."
"The Government of Canada is very concerned by this issue," added Minister Graham. "Acting within international law, we are committed to playing an increasingly active role on the world stage to stop overfishing and non-compliance. The European Union, its member states and Canada must work closely together to ensure sustainability and conservation of fish stocks."
The new measures announced today also include:
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Expansion of Canada’s patrol presence from one dedicated vessel to three on the Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks and the Flemish Cap. Additional Navy and Coast Guard vessels will be deployed as required.
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Creation of an advisory committee of eminent Canadians to provide advice to the Government on how to end the cycle of high seas ecosystems destruction.
A key element of the Canadian strategy is to increase the number of boardings of foreign trawlers to monitor their level of compliance. The Canadian presence in the zone currently consists of the Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal and Canadian Coast Guard vessels CCGS Cowley, CCGS Grenfell and CCGS Teleost.
There are ongoing operations in which four foreign trawlers were boarded earlier this week. Two citations for suspected violations of NAFO rules were issued to the Portuguese vessel Aveirense. These investigations are continuing.
"Canada expects all fishing nations to comply fully with accepted international regulations and standards,’’ said Minister Graham.
Minister Graham confirmed that the European Union and Portugal have been contacted concerning Canada’s ongoing operations to request accelerated cooperation in Canada’s efforts against overfishing.
The $15 million investment for this year builds on the commitment made by Minister Regan on March 16 to step up Canada’s enforcement presence in the NAFO Regulatory Area. At that time, the Minister outlined a five year, $17.5 million strategy that included an initial increase in patrol presence, co-operation with the Department of National Defence, and enhancements of monitoring and analysis capacity. Since then, an additional $12.5 million has been reallocated within DFO for this initiative.
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