The recently announced decisions of the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) on shrimp and seal quotas are serving to create uncertainty in the industry and undermine existing participants, says the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
“The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has serious concerns regarding the increases in the shrimp quota allocations that were announced for Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) and Nova Scotia in the federal 2009 Gulf of St. Lawrence Shrimp Management Plan,” said Minister Hedderson. “As well, our government was very upset to learn that the increase in the harp seal total allowable catch (TAC) of 5,000 was allocated entirely to sealers from Quebec. Both of these allocations were contrary to advice from the federal department’s own industry advisory committees”.
“This is a disconcerting pattern that is emerging in federal allocations,” said the minister. “It seems that quota decisions are being made on the basis of political considerations related to the federal minister’s own province, rather than the long-term interest of the industry. These decisions on shrimp and seals set dangerous precedents for the Atlantic fishery at a time when we are experiencing unprecedented volatility.”
Neither P.E.I. nor Nova Scotia has had a shrimp fleet operating in the gulf shrimp fishery, yet those provinces have received a shrimp quota increase. Newfoundland and Labrador will also see a slight increase in quota. However, this province will actually experience a decrease in the overall share of the quota. This is despite the fact that PEI and Nova Scotia have no historic dependence on this resource. The P.E.I. and Nova Scotia allocation will each increase from 263 tonnes to 426 tonnes.
“In the context of the global economic crisis, there are difficulties facing the existing fleet,” said Minister Hedderson. “It is problematic to increase the quota and then allocate it to constituent industry groups that have never had a fleet before, at a time when the existing industry is facing so much uncertainty.”
There was a meeting of the Federal Government’s gulf shrimp advisory committee on February 12 of this year. There was general agreement of the committee to maintain the status quo on the TAC in the gulf shrimp fishery. The committee is made up representatives from the Atlantic Provinces, Quebec and DFO.
“The decision to ignore the recommendation of the industry advisory committee lacks transparency and threatens the stability of the industry at a time when stability is critical, in light of the global economic crisis,” said Minister Hedderson. “It is difficult to understand why the quota would be changed after understandings were reached with industry stakeholders.”
As well, a total of 3,500 seals have been added to the Magdalen Island quota and 1,500 have been added to the Quebec north shore quota, along the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Sealers in Newfoundland and Labrador have not received an increase. This increase in the total harvest was not requested by industry and its allocation to one jurisdiction is without any justification. The gulf seal harvest always takes place weeks prior to the sealing harvest on the Front in Newfoundland and Labrador, giving Quebec sealers the best opportunity to sell their seal products. These increases in Quebec mean that additional seals harvested by Quebec sealers will further reduce the potential for sales for sealers in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“Unfortunately, the federal minister was unavailable to meet with me while I was in Ottawa this week, despite my request for a meeting,” said Minister Hedderson. “I have written to Minister Shea and requested that no further allocation decisions or announcements be made until there is an emergency meeting of the Eastern Canadian fisheries ministers. I continue to await her response.”
