Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Greg Deighan said the Province has taken several steps in recent days to pressure the federal government to make adjustments to the snow crab management plan.
The plan, announced by Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Robert Thibault earlier this month, cut the total allowable catch from 22,000 metric tonnes (mt) to 17,148 mt, in spite of a 15 per cent increase in the commercial biomass.
Minister Deighan said the plan completely violates the principle of equity for PEI fishers Island fishers participated in the development of the snow crab fishery back in the 1960s; they are positioned right on the edge of the crab grounds; and at almost 30 per cent, Prince Edward Island has the largest number of Gulf core fishermen, yet received the smallest allocation. Under the new management plan, the 28 permanent snow crab licence holders in PEI see their allocation reduced by 35 per cent from 959 mt to 623 mt; and PEI's portion of the temporary allocation is slashed 62 per cent from 291 mt to 110 mt.
Speaking in the Provincial Legislature, Minister Deighan said he sent a letter to Minister Thibault last week, restating PEI's position and urging him to reconsider this management plan. He also asked to discuss the issue with Minister Thibault.
"I was pleased to have that opportunity last Friday. I spoke to the federal minister by telephone and personally told him how this decision affects PEI."
Overall, the total loss to the Island economy is estimated at more than $6 million. Based on 2002 prices, the reduction in quota to the traditional fleet of 28 Island fishers allocation would result in a substantial decrease in the landed value to these fishers - in the area of $2 million. Meanwhile, the reduction in the shared allocation has hit hard for PEI's core fishers. Last year, this shared allocation resulted in crab fishing permits being made available to 51 fishers who previously had no access to this resource. With the substantial cut in quota, that number drops to just 19 this year and the landed value will drop by $1 million.
The new snow crab management plan has also dealt a severe blow to the groundfish dependent fishers in PEI. They were looking to the snow crab resource to help them deal with the closure of the cod fishery this year. The small snow crab allocation this group received does virtually nothing to provide an alternative for these PEI fishers.
Minister Deighan said Premier Pat Binns has also voiced his support for PEI fishers. In a letter to the prime minister, he impressed upon him that the snow crab management plan is unacceptable to Prince Edward Island fishers, and he too urged the federal government to reconsider the plan.
In other efforts, Minister Deighan said officials in his department have been in contact with staff of the PEI members of Parliament, including Federal Solicitor General Wayne Easter's office.
"I'm sure MPs understand the impact of this decision on PEI fishers. I am, therefore, asking them to provide whatever assistance they can to pressure their government to make changes to the snow crab management plan."
Since the snow crab management plan was announced, Minister Deighan said he and staff in his office have spoken to numerous Island fishers and representatives of the industry groups affected. They are also taking steps to represent the interests of PEI fishers to the federal government.
Minister Thibault met with representatives of crab fishers on Sunday. Minister Deighan said senior officials in his department were speaking with senior management at DFO following that meeting to re-state PEI's position. There have been indications from the federal minister that the total allowable catch for snow crab will be increased from 17,148 metric tonnes to 20,000 metric tonnes.
"I will continue to do everything within my means to impress upon Minister Thibault that this snow crab management plan violates the principle of equity and is unjust to PEI fishers," said Minister Deighan.