NR-HQ-00-93E

CANADA ANNOUNCES PROGRESS AT THE NAFO ANNUAL MEETING

September 22, 2000

OTTAWA -- Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced results of Canada’s efforts to achieve enhanced conservation measures for fisheries beyond its 200-mile zone at the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) annual meeting, which was held in Boston, Massachusetts, from September 18 to 22, 2000.

At the meeting, Canada was insistent that management measures and catch levels for straddling stocks adhere to advice provided by NAFO’s Scientific Council. As such, NAFO maintained the moratoria on cod, witch flounder, redfish and American plaice stocks.

In accordance with the Scientific Council advice, NAFO increased the total allowable catch (TAC) for yellowtail flounder in 3LNO from 10,000 to 13,000 tonnes for 2001. Canada has the predominant share of the NAFO quota of yellowtail flounder, and will harvest 97.5% of the quota. The TAC for turbot in NAFO area 2+3KLMNO was also increased from 35,000 to 40,000 tonnes, and will provide additional fishing opportunities for Canadian fishermen.

"For the first time in many years, all TACs for NAFO stocks have been set in accordance with the advice of the Scientific Council," Mr. Dhaliwal said. "We are pleased with the continuing steps which are being taken to achieve stock rebuilding."

Canada also succeeded in the adoption of new NAFO conservation measures to avoid excessive incidental catches of non-target species. Vessels will be required to change fishing area when the level of bycatch reaches a prescribed limit.

"A key outcome of this year’s meeting is the development of technical measures to enhance the NAFO Observer Program and its sister Program for Satellite Tracking. The Observer Program is the cornerstone of the NAFO control system. These changes should ensure improvement in the effectiveness of the Program," Mr. Dhaliwal said.

The NAFO meeting this week was also successful in enhancing the NAFO program of observers and satellite tracking. A more comprehensive regime for a satellite vessel monitoring system was developed.

Of particular significance are measures to ensure that automatic vessel identification and positioning information is communicated to Contracting Parties four times a day for further transmission to Canada and the European Union which have an active inspection presence in the NAFO Regulatory Area. The Satellite Tracking System, which will come into force on January 1, 2001, will complement the 100% observer program incorporated in the NAFO Conservation and Enforcement Measures in 1998.

"The implementation of measures to protect juveniles and reduce bycatch of species under moratoria is key to efforts to rebuild stocks in the NAFO Regulatory Area. While useful first steps have been taken, it is clear that stronger measures are required and must be implemented. NAFO Contracting Parties have agreed to examine, design and implement for 2002 additional conservation measures, as appropriate. In this regard, a top priority for Canada in the coming year will be the development of concrete and effective measures to give effect to the strong statement of all NAFO Contracting Parties to evaluate and implement more comprehensive measures to protect young fish and reduce bycatch," added Mr. Dhaliwal.

Canada was also instrumental in pushing for the adoption of a detailed action plan to implement the precautionary approach, on a pilot basis, for three NAFO stocks (3NO cod, 3LNO yellowtail flounder and 3LNO American plaice) and the continuing development of the precautionary approach for all stocks in the NAFO area.

"NAFO’s support for the implementation of the precautionary approach is fundamental to conservation and the rebuilding of fisheries resources," Mr. Dhaliwal said.

NAFO was founded in 1978 and provides for the conservation and management of 12 fish stocks comprising of two categories: "straddling" stocks, found both inside Canada’s 200-mile limit and in the adjacent high seas; and "discrete" stocks, found entirely outside the 200-mile limit on the Flemish Cap. Members include Canada, Bulgaria, Cuba, Denmark (on behalf of Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Estonia, the European Union, France (on behalf of St. Pierre and Miquelon), Iceland, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and the United States.

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