PEI Fisheries and Tourism Minister Kevin MacAdam today announced the selection of Mr. Eugene Niles, of Cape Pelé, N.B. as Chairman of a steering committee to oversee a project that will study marketing mechanisms for lobster and other resources at the first level of sale. This study will look at what mechanisms currently are in place in the Island fishery and review other mechanisms which might be considered by the fishing industry in this province.
Mr. MacAdam said funding was approved-in-principle earlier this year to implement this study and a good deal of time and effort by all concerned has gone into getting it organized. "I would like to acknowledge and thank members of the Southern Kings and Queens Fishermens Association who had the original idea to carry out this study as well as other members of the PEI Fishermen's Association for their efforts to date on this important issue," said the Minister.
Mr. MacAdam said, "I am pleased that Mr. Niles has accepted to serve as Chairman of the Steering Committee that will develop Terms of Reference and engage the services of appropriate professionals to carry out this important work through a public call for proposals."
Mr. Niles has twenty-nine years at the executive and senior management level with the Federal and Provincial Government service, the Canadian military and the private sector. From 1993 until the present, Mr. Niles has operated a consulting business and carried out a number of fisheries related studies. "Mr. Niles has served as DFO's Regional Director General for the Gulf Region from 1986 to 1988 from which he will bring a broad base of experience and knowledge of the fishing industry to this study," said the Minister. Recently, Mr. Niles chaired a key sub-committee concerned with the impact of the construction of the Confederation Bridge on the fishery for lobster and other species.
Mr. MacAdam also announced that Mr. Niles will be joined by three or four Island fishers representatives to serve as the other members of the Steering Committee. "The role of this committee is to ensure that the study will be carried out in a most professional and thorough manner and that a process will be set up to ensure the involvement of fishers at the grass roots level," said the Minister.
The Minister said that he would accept nominations of bonafide lobster fishers by other bonafide lobster fishers over the next three week period. "I will then choose Steering Committee members from those nominees," said the Minister. Those who wish to put nominees forward should do so in writing to the Department of Fisheries and Tourism on or before August 21, 1998. Those interested may obtain a nomination form by phoning 368-5251.
This study should be completed and a report made to government early in the New Year.