NR-HQ-01-43E

Dhaliwal adopts cautious approach for the 2001 Northern Shrimp Fishery

May 23, 2001

OTTAWA -- Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today announced that he will follow a cautious approach and maintain the existing overall northern shrimp quota for the  2001 fishery. The Total Allowable Catch (TAC) will remain at 110,052 tonnes (t) and the management measures announced in June 2000, as part of the 3-year management plan, will continue to apply this year.

"This fishery has tripled in volume since 1996 and I want to be sure that we are not increasing fishing effort too quickly. Therefore, I have decided to adopt a cautious approach to help ensure the long-term sustainability of these stocks," Mr. Dhaliwal said.

"This is a very important fishery for the communities and the participants involved and we want to keep it that way. Given the rate of growth in the past four years, I want to take a step back and examine the impact of the recent expansion of this fishery on the stocks, together with the viability of the existing participants."

Results from the scientific assessment, based on data collected from the commercial fishery and research trawl surveys from 1995 to 2000, indicate that overall the resource appears healthy and abundant. However, in some areas where a complete research trawl survey was not undertaken in 2000, there is uncertainty with respect to the size of the stock and the impact of the current level of exploitation in this fishery. Scientists note that removals at the current levels will not likely increase the current exploitation rate and that a TAC of 110,052t will allow for a viable fishery.

Overall, northern shrimp quotas have increased from 37,600t in 1996 to 110,052t in 2000. In one area, Shrimp Fishing Area 6 off the northeast coast of Newfoundland, the increase has been fivefold, from 11,050t in 1996 to 61,632t in 2000.

In accordance with the principles developed in consultation with industry, all allocations since 1997 have been provided on a temporary basis, based on the "last in, first out" principle. In other words, should there be a decline in the abundance of the resource in the future, temporary participants will be removed from the fishery in reverse order of gaining access.

Based on allocations in the 2000-2002 management plan, announced in June 2000, Newfoundland and Labrador receives about 70% of the total quota; Quebec receives about 12%; Nunavut receives about 7%; New Brunswick receives about 5%; Nova Scotia receives about 5%; and Prince Edward Island receives about 1%.

"While this fishery was worth about $300 million last year, we do not want to add further pressure nor create too much capacity and dependence on this resource," Mr. Dhaliwal said.