NR-HQ-00-79E

DHALIWAL ANNOUNCES INCREASED TURBOT ALLOCATION AND STAFF FOR NUNAVUT IN 2001

August 16, 2000

IQALUIT -- The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced that Nunavut will receive all of the Canadian quota of turbot recommended by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Scientific Council in the Davis Strait (Division 0A) next year.

The Scientific Council has recommended an additional TAC be implemented for the offshore area of Divisions 0A+1A with a catch of up to 4,000t in 2001 (see attached map). The quota for Division 0A will be established separately from NAFO Division 0B, which is traditionally fished by Nunavut interests as well as fishermen from other provinces. Turbot in Divisions 0A and 0B will be managed as separate units in 2001.

Since 1996, Nunavut interests have conducted an exploratory fishery in Division 0A with a maximum harvest level of 300 tonnes. This additional quota will permit the Nunavut to expand the current exploratory fishery.

"I am very pleased to provide Nunavut fishers with increased fishing opportunities to harvest turbot next year," Mr. Dhaliwal said. "This allocation will be over and above current allocations to Nunavut interests in Division 0B in 2001. The 5,500 tonnes, which are available in the southern part of this area, will not be affected by this new quota nor will the historical interests of the other parties who currently fish there."

Bilateral discussions with Greenland will be undertaken later this year to determine the sharing arrangement of the 4,000t of turbot for Divisions 0A and 1A for 2001. Sub-area 0A is in Canadian waters and 1A is in Greenland waters.

"Providing Nunavut with 100% of the Canadian allocation in 0A next year will permit the continuation of the exploratory fishery on an expanded basis," Mr. Dhaliwal added. "As the NAFO Scientific Council has noted, the relationship between Greenland halibut in both 0A and 1A, and other areas of Sub-Area 0 and 1 is unknown and needs to be thoroughly investigated."

Canada and Greenland are currently partnering a survey, to be completed in 2001, to study the turbot biomass in the north. Information from the expanded exploratory fishery and the survey will assist in determining the relationships of turbot in the various Divisions in the north.

"With this new fishing opportunity, I am also pleased to announce a 25% increase in DFO staff in Nunavut. The additional resources will contribute to the effectiveness of DFO programs and initiatives, including the development of new and existing fisheries," Mr. Dhaliwal added. DFO staff levels in Nunavut will increase from 12 to 15 employees in 2001.