|
Released: 13 December, 2001
Dhaliwal Announces Lobster Conservation Strategy For 2002
December 13, 2001
OTTAWA -- Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today
announced that the lobster conservation measures introduced in 1998-2001 will
continue for the 2002 lobster fishing season. In the meantime, the department
will continue to work with the industry to develop management plans for specific
lobster fishing areas, as well as a new multi-year conservation strategy to
begin in 2003.
"The lobster resource is very important to a number of communities on
the East Coast and we need to continue with our efforts to protect it," Mr.
Dhaliwal said. "For the 2002 season, we will maintain the existing
conservation measures outlined in the 4-year conservation strategy. In the
meantime, we will consult with industry to see if measures need to be
strengthened as we work towards a new long-term strategy."
The Atlantic Canada Lobster Conservation Strategy of 1998-2001 was
implemented in response to the 1995 Fisheries Resource Conservation Council (FRCC)
report entitled, "A Conservation Framework for Atlantic Lobster". The
report found that lobster exploitation rates were very high and that the fishery
takes a high proportion of new recruits, leading to very low levels of egg
production. The FRCC recommended that conservation measures were needed to
increase the level of egg production per recruit. Current analysis continues to
indicate that lobsters are heavily exploited and that although landings remain
high in many areas they have started to decline from the peak level of over
48,000t in 1991 to the current levels of 40,000t Atlantic-wide.
Existing conservation measures are aimed at doubling egg production per
recruit throughout Atlantic Canada and Quebec. DFO is committed to this target
and is currently conducting an intensive review of the implementation and
effects of the conservation strategy introduced in 1998. The results of this
review may require some adjustments to conservation harvesting plans in specific
lobster fishing areas. DFO will work the fishing industry to identify and
implement any required changes.
Lobster is the single most valuable species fished on the East Coast, with
the total landed value nearly doubling from $266 million in 1989 to $509 million
in 2000.
- 30 -
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Myriam Brochu
Manager, Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
(613) 998-1530
|
