NR-PR-01-053E

May 28, 2001

Vancouver – Fisheries and Oceans Canada today announced the total allowable catch (TAC) for the 2001 Canadian Pacific hake fishery.

The TAC is based on scientific advice provided in 1999 by the joint Canada/United States scientific community that indicated the Pacific hake stock was in a period of decline, although still at moderate abundance levels.

For 2001, Fisheries and Ocean Canada has set the Canadian TAC at 81,600 tonnes. This TAC is consistent with Canada’s historic position of harvesting 30 per cent of the coastwide catch taken by both Canadian and US fishermen.

Allocation of the Canadian TAC will continue under the three-year domestic allocation arrangement established in 1999. This resource sharing arrangement is based on a formula that allocates the TAC in the following manner:

• 50,000 tonnes for delivery to shore-based processing;
• 15,800 tonnes to be held in reserve, and to be released with priority access to shore-based processing, based on pre-season and in-season assessments conducted in conjunction with stakeholders in the industry; and
• 15,800 tonnes available for delivery to at-sea processors.

There are four objectives guiding decisions on the hake fishery:

1. Conservation of the resource to ensure its full utilization on a sustainable basis for the continuing benefit of Canadian fishermen, processors and coastal communities who are dependent on the resource.
2. Stability and balance in the development of the harvesting and processing sectors of the Pacific hake fishery. This will help ensure a steady and assured supply of fish for the optimum development of the harvesting, processing and marketing of Pacific hake.
3. Priority access to the resource to meet the requirements of onshore processing plants, with particular emphasis on the needs of fish plants in small coastal communities adjacent to the resource.
4. Commercially viable harvesting, processing and marketing of Pacific hake on a sustainable basis.

Canada is striving to resume negotiations with the United States to secure a harvest sharing agreement that will ensure the long-term stability of the resource and the industry.

By continuing to base the fishery on conservation and by continuing to negotiate with the United States to reach a sharing harvest agreement, the Fisheries and Oceans Canada will ensure the long-term sustainability of the hake resource.

		Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Pacific Region Contact Communications Branch Important Notices and Disclaimers Questions Contact: Webmaster Updated: 2006-05-23