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Released: 19 November, 1999

Dhaliwal And Streifel Pledge Cooperation To Address B.C. Fisheries Issues

November 19, 1999

OTTAWA -- Federal Fisheries and Oceans Minister Herb Dhaliwal and B.C. Fisheries Minister Dennis Streifel met today to address a range of common concerns, including the short-term and long-term challenges facing the B.C. salmon industry. The Ministers agreed to work cooperatively in responding to these challenges.

This was the fourth meeting of the Canada-B.C. Council of Fisheries Ministers, which was formed in 1997 as part of the Canada-British Columbia Agreement on The Management of the Pacific Salmon Fishery Issues.

"We recognize the need for governments to work together on issues facing the B.C. salmon fishery, both in the immediate term and over the next several years," Mr. Dhaliwal said. "I will continue to expedite the delivery of federal programs that have been designed to help individuals and communities adjust to the changes in the salmon fishery."

Minister Dhaliwal noted in particular that within the $400-million Pacific component of the Canadian Fisheries Adjustment and Restructuring Program (CFAR) he will allocate funding to further work on selective fishing practices, fisheries diversification and community economic development.

In addition, Mr. Dhaliwal indicated that funds would be made available to refund the 1999 licence fees to those who were unable to fish due to the low return of Fraser River sockeye.

Mr. Streifel said, "Coastal communities are in crisis, and we have made progress on immediate solutions for those so severely hurt this year. Even more important, we are making progress on a number of initiatives to enhance the long-term viability of our salmon fishery and bring greater stability and certainty to coastal B.C."

Both Ministers recognized the need to better coordinate the delivery of economic development programs at the local level to maximize the benefit to coastal communities. In this context, the Ministers noted the valuable role played by the federal Community Economic Adjustment Initiative and Fisheries Renewal B.C.

The Ministers also discussed the potential of the aquaculture sector in British Columbia. They agreed on the benefits of working together, in particular on research and development investments, to enable Canada to become a world leader in sustainable aquaculture.

The Ministers noted the two governments had made significant progress in developing protocols on habitat protection and enforcement.

Mr. Dhaliwal and Mr. Streifel agreed to meet again early in the new year to review progress on these initiatives.

Since 1997, significant progress has been made under the Canada-British Columbia Agreement on the Management of Pacific Salmon Fishery Issues.

 The Council was established to review and co-ordinate policy initiatives related to the salmon resource and its habitat.

• Following consultation with the province and stakeholders, Fisheries and Oceans Canada released an Allocation Policy for Pacific Salmon in October, 1999.

• The Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council, established in 1998, released its first annual report in June, 1999.

• A steelhead protocol providing the framework for co-ordinated federal-provincial management planning and information sharing was signed in May, 1999.

• A protocol on information co-ordination and sharing was signed in May, 1999.

• The two governments jointly commissioned a report by the B.C. Job Protection Commission.

• Participation by the B.C. government and stakeholders in the Pacific Scientific Advice Review Committee has been enhanced.

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