Minister Gail Shea Dispels Myths About Amendments to the Convention of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, Oct 08 (MARKET WIRE) --
Minister Gail Shea appeared before the House of Commons Standing
Committee on Fisheries and Oceans today to discuss amendments to the 1978
Convention for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO).
Following the meeting, Minister Shea issued the following statement:

"We have made great strides at NAFO over the last few years. We have seen
a dramatic improvement in compliance with NAFO rules and quotas in the
Regulatory Area outside our 200-mile limit, and some stocks are now
showing signs of recovery, including straddling stocks important to
Canada's fishing industry.

The progress that we see today is a direct result of Canada's leadership
in reforming NAFO's enforcement framework and rules in 2006. We now have
an opportunity to build on this success to further modernize and improve
the way NAFO makes management decisions for international fisheries.

NAFO is not the organization it was fifteen years ago when fish were
traded with minimal consideration of impacts on other stocks. The amended
Convention recognizes, for the first time, the need to incorporate
precautionary and ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries management
decision-making. This is a modern and forward-looking approach that
Canada has implemented in its own management of its domestic fisheries.

To be clear, the amendments adopted by NAFO Contracting Parties in 2007
fully recognize Canada's sovereignty over fisheries inside our Exclusive
Economic Zone. The amended instrument is a reflection of the United
Nations Fish Stocks Agreement in that it provides a Contracting State the
option to request - if it is in its interest to do so - that a measure be
adopted by NAFO for an area under the jurisdiction of that State. This
provision was drafted and accepted by not only Canada but other coastal
States like the United States. It is based on similar provisions already
in place for some time in other regional fisheries management
organizations, such as the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission.
These existing provisions strengthen sovereignty. They do not weaken it.

Canada retains full control over resources in its own waters, and it will
not be coerced or pressured into giving up this control by any NAFO
member. To claim otherwise is simply fear-mongering.

Further, the new voting system contained in the amended Convention will
enhance the protection of Canada's quotas of the NAFO stocks, which is a
significant preoccupation of the Canadian fishing industry, as will the
controlled system to address objections and disputes. The amended
Convention limits objections to narrow grounds and requires a Contracting
Party that objects to a conservation and management decision to clearly
demonstrate the grounds for the objection and to set out alternative
equivalent measures that it intends to take for conservation and
management of the fishery in the interim. It also provides an active role
for the NAFO Commission in trying to resolve the issue. Consequently,
NAFO members will be held accountable for their actions so that we avoid
these unnecessary and counterproductive situations - and reduce
overfishing. The current Convention has no such mechanism.

Through leadership, international collaboration, and enforcement efforts
at NAFO, Canada has achieved effective control over the straddling and
groundfish stocks that are important for Newfoundland and Labrador and
the Canadian fishing industry. This is custodial management.

The Canadian fishing industry and provincial governments were consulted
extensively throughout the negotiations on the amended Convention.

In short, the amendments are beneficial for Canada and especially for the
fishing industry of Newfoundland and Labrador, its economy and its
people. Canada's fishing industry brings billions of dollars to the
economies of our coastal communities. We are committed to the long-term
viability of this industry.

No country can single-handedly and unilaterally ensure the sustainability
of high-seas fisheries outside its own waters. Canada has international
obligations to collaborate with other parties that have an interest in
the NAFO stocks.

The fact is that we have a choice before us: accept the amended
Convention, with all of the benefits that it offers us; or maintain the
existing Convention, with all of its well-known problems. The amendments
to the Convention were adopted through a negotiating process involving
all parties acting in good faith. Opening up that process again would
likely put the significant advancements we have gained in jeopardy, and
could, in fact, result in concessions that do not serve Canada's
interests."

Contacts:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa
Scott Cantin
Media Relations
613-993-5413

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa
Office of the Minister
Nancy Bishay
Press Secretary
613-992-3474

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