Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Walter Bradley said today he is encouraged that groundfish stocks in Atlantic Canada are beginning to recover. He was responding to the findings of the Fisheries Resources Conservation Council which was released in a report today.
"I am pleased that the southern Gulf Atlantic cod stock has improved to the point where some level of commercial fishing can resume, resulting in more landed value and employment for the industry in this province," said Mr. Bradley. "At the same time, I recognize the need for continued stringent management and control of a re-opened fishery."
The FRCC report recommends a total allowable catch for cod in the southern Gulf, which includes waters off Prince Edward Island, be established at 6000 metric tonnes for 1997. The average catch in the 1980s before the moratorium was imposed in 1993 was about 50,000 tonnes. The report also recommends a total allowable catch for plaice flounder of 2500 tonnes and a more liberalized by-catch for white hake of 500 tonnes. The report recommends that the directed fishery for hake remains closed.
Mr. Bradley said these quota levels, if accepted by the federal minister, would be well below historical levels but that the continuation of conservation efforts will allow for more rapid rebuilding of the stock in the coming years.
"I look forward to early ratification of these recommendations by Fisheries and Oceans Minister Fred Mifflin," he said. "I realize the discussions to come will be difficult and I encourage all groundfishermen to work closely together and with government to set out a renewed direction for the groundfishery."