PEI Fisheries and Environment Minister Kevin J. MacAdam reported in the Legislature today on his recent meeting in Ottawa with Federal Fisheries Minister David Anderson.
"I had an excellent opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues with Mr. Anderson which affect P.E.I. fishers and aquaculturalists, and I also had the opportunity to review these issues with his Parliamentary Secretary Wayne Easter and Egmont M.P. Joe McGuire," said Mr. MacAdam.
The Minister indicated that the issues he discussed included lobster conservation, scallop dependant fishermen, the northern shrimp fishery, the Gulf shrimp fishery, proposed increases in shellfish leasing fees and post TAGS programming.
"I renewed my proposal to Mr. Anderson to delay proposed egg production measures in the lobster fishery for a three-year period and to support and implement a series of studies aimed at gathering biological information on key aspects of the lobster fishery," said the Minister. Mr. MacAdam stated that he pointed out to Mr. Anderson that P.E.I. lobster fishers are supportive of conservation measures but have raised a number of legitimate questions on the issue that should be answered before decisions are taken respecting their future livelihood.
The Minister reported raising the issue of fishers who are almost totally dependant upon the scallop fishery and the devastating effect cancellation of the spring season in Eastern Northumberland Strait will have upon them. "The end of the spring scallop season is welcomed by many who fish lobster in the area, however, I pointed out to Mr. Anderson that these scallop dependant fishers deserve to have their loss compensated in some manner," said Mr. MacAdam.
"I also had a good opportunity to discuss access for P.E.I. to both the northern and Gulf shrimp fisheries and I feel Mr. Anderson was receptive to our position," said the Minister. MacAdam pointed out that P.E.I. is the only Province east of Ontario that does not have access to the northern shrimp fishery and stocks are currently expanding in a very substantial manner. In the case of the shrimp fishery in the Gulf, P.E.I. also has no licenses despite the fact that landings have increased by 116% since 1985 and, during that time, 27 licenses were issued to fishermen in other provinces.
The Minister stated that he sought and received the commitment of Mr. Anderson to maintain current fees and current budget levels in the shellfish leasing program for this year to allow time to design an effective but affordable leasing service. "The shellfish leasing service is extremely important to our aquaculture industry and, while I strongly support D.F.O.'s decision to revitalize the Program, the proposed fee increase to support that is far in excess of what oyster leaseholders and mussel farmers can absorb in a competitive marketplace," said Mr. MacAdam. The Minister further indicated that his Department is prepared to work with the shellfish industry and D.F.O. to revitalize the leasing system in an affordable manner.
The final issue which Mr. MacAdam discussed in Ottawa was the issue of the kind of programming that might replace the Atlantic Groundfish Strategy (TAGS) due to conclude this summer. "While we do not have large numbers of plant workers and fishers who were totally dependant upon groundfish, their needs are as great as those in other provinces where the numbers are high and I would like to see some provisions, especially for older plant workers and fishers," said the Minister.
"I want to thank Mr. Anderson and the M.P.'s for providing the time to meet and hear our views and I, along with our industry, will be awaiting announcements from the federal government on a number of these important issues in the coming days and weeks," concluded Mr. MacAdam.