Canadian government was asked to keep open its ports for the Faroe Islands and Greenland’s fishing vessels. Fisheries Minister Shea advised her counterparts in the Faroe Islands and Greenland that Canada would be closing its ports to Faroese and Greenlandic fishing vessels as of February 15, unless they withdraw their objection to the 3L shrimp quota set by the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO).
She said that the Canadian government has acted in good faith for several years to try to resolve this issue, to no avail. It has become clear to Canada that attempts to come to a multilateral agreement regarding the 3L shrimp quota for Denmark (in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland) are at an impasse. I remain open to meet with the Fisheries Ministers of the Faroe Islands and Greenland at their earliest convenience.
She informed that Canadian government will close Canadian ports to the Faroe Islands and Greenland effective tomorrow. Our government will continue to do whatever is necessary, under the law, to protect Canadian fishermen and the sustainability of the industry. She expect that all NAFO Contracting Parties to abide by existing international agreements, particularly conservation measures such as the NAFO quotas agreed to last September in Bergen, Norway, and to resolve disputes through the appropriate NAFO process.
