Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Greg Deighan brought concerns of Prince Edward Island fishers to the attention of his federal counterpart during a meeting of the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (CCFAM) in Halifax today.
This was the first national meeting Minister Deighan attended since assuming the fisheries and aquaculture portfolio, and also the first CCFAM meeting for the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Robert Thibault. Minister Deighan took the opportunity to raise two issues that Island fishers have been pressing the federal government to resolve: large herring seiners fishing close to the Island shoreline and the enforcement of the boundary line between lobster fishing areas 22 and 24 near North Cape.
On the issue of the herring seiners, Minister Deighan pointed out that inshore fishers are concerned about potential habitat damage and fear that specific spawning schools of fish could be taken in such numbers that stocks could be jeopardized.
"Simply put, fishers are concerned for their livelihood. While the seiners have the right to fish their share of the quota, they cannot be allowed to do so at the expense of inshore fishers," said Minister Deighan. "I asked Minister Thibault to bring the issue to a successful conclusion as soon as possible to protect herring stocks off Prince Edward Island."
Minister Deighan also asked the federal minister to seek a resolution soon to the issue of the boundary line between lobster fishing areas 22 and 24. The area is considered a Quebec fishing zone even though it is less than 10 kilometres from the Prince Edward Island shoreline and approximately 90 kilometres from the Îles de la Madeleine. During the 2002 spring lobster season, 28 Island fishers received illegal fishing warnings when they set traps in the area.
"The enforcement of this line has the potential to disrupt traditional fishing patterns for the 2003 season," said Minister Deighan. "Generations of fishers in the North Cape region have fished in this area, without incident, for decades. I pressed Minister Thibault to move toward a resolution of this issue now, so that fishers know where they stand before another season gets underway."
Also on the topic of the lobster fishery, Minister Deighan said he noted the concerns of fishers in Area 25 who are experiencing a reduction in lobster landings, particularly in the central part of the Northumberland Strait.
"It is important to gain as much information as possible and continue research on the resource in this area in hopes of determining the reason or reasons for the decline," he added.
Minister Deighan said he had a positive and productive first meeting with Minister Thibault and his other counterparts across the country and looks forward to working together to protect and enhance the fisheries and aquaculture industries. During the meeting, Minister Deighan and Minister Thibault signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Fish Habitat Management. The agreement identifies six key areas which the federal and provincial governments will focus on in the next year to contribute to the protection, restoration and enhancement of fish habitat in the province.
Among the other items discussed at Thursday's meeting, ministers agreed to direct a new task group to look into reducing the risks posed by the introduction of invasive aquatics species such as the clubbed tunicate. Once established, these species are difficult to eradicate and can have long-term social and economic impacts.
On the topic of aquaculture, ministers at the CCFAM reviewed the work of the task group that was instrumental in developing a comprehensive Canadian Action Plan for Aquaculture and agreed to the importance of developing a collaborative National Aquatic Animal Health program. Provincial ministers also stressed the importance of efficient and timely processes for site access.