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Released: 23 September, 1999
Canadian Council Of Fisheries AndAquaculture Ministers Pledges New Era Of Cooperation
Federal-Provincial-Territorial
Meeting of Ministers responsible for Fisheries
Québec, Quebec - September 23, 1999
QUEBEC CITY, Quebec,
September 23, 1999 --The Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture
Ministers (CCFAM), composed of federal, provincial and territorial Ministers,
today discussed national and global issues affecting the fisheries and
aquaculture sectors and identified shared policy objectives and principles. The
meeting was hosted by Rémy Trudel, Quebec Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food, and Herb Dhaliwal, federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.
At the end of the meeting,
Minister Rémy Trudel said on behalf of his provincial and territorial
colleagues, "We are pleased with the progress made since last September in
Victoria. The development of the Council's new structure will lead to beneficial
discussions and concrete deliverables. As well, with the working groups that
will be formed, we should be able to address current issues and implement the
Council's decisions more quickly."
"It was a great pleasure to
meet with my provincial and territorial counterparts at this inaugural meeting
of the CCFAM," said Mr. Dhaliwal. "I am confident that today we have
entered a new era of federal-provincial-territorial relations in the fisheries
and aquaculture sectors. Ministers and their departments will work together
strategically and effectively. This Council is well-positioned to create
economic opportunities through a viable fishery and an ecologically sustainable
aquaculture industry."
Today, Ministers endorsed a new Agreement
on Interjurisdictional Cooperation, which outlines several principles of
cooperation, including timely consultations, information-sharing, transparency
and flexibility in the application of policies and programs. The Agreement is
the mechanism that will permit Ministers to identify shared priorities and
create opportunities for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
Ministers reviewed and agreed upon
a strategic workplan for 1999-2000. The workplan sets out concrete objectives
and deliverables that will support fisheries and aquaculture diversification and
development. Federal-provincial-territorial working groups will be established
to undertake work in the following areas:
·
Freshwater Fishery Initiative
·
National Code on Introductions and Transfers of
Aquatic Organisms
·
Plan to Manage Fishing Capacity
·
Sustainable Aquaculture
·
Emerging Fisheries, and
·
Recreational Fishing.
Mr. Yves Bastien, Aquaculture
Commissioner, provided a progress report on the status of the review of the
legislative and regulatory framework for aquaculture, and committed to continue
to work closely with provincial and territorial governments in the exercise of
his mandate. Provincial and territorial Ministers asked the federal Minister to
make additional funding available to sustain development of this important
industry. All Ministers endorsed the goal of Canada becoming a world leader in
sustainable aquaculture.
On recreational fishing, Ministers
indicated their support for proceeding with a Canada-wide survey on recreational
fishing in the year 2000. They further agreed to continue to work with the
private sector in the promotion and development of this fishery.
Discussions took place on the
recent Supreme Court decision on the Marshall Case. Ministers stressed again the
need to immediately address the many issues and uncertainties surrounding the
decision. Minister Dhaliwal reiterated his objective to follow the direction of
the Court in a manner that will ensure conservation, and that is fair to the
interests of all. All Ministers appealed to the groups involved in the Atlantic
fishery for patience, restraint and goodwill during this period of some
uncertainty.
Minister Dhaliwal presented his
Department's science priorities and Ministers discussed opportunities to enhance
federal-provincial-territorial collaboration in this area.
The Canadian Responsible Fisheries
Board provided an update on the ratification of the Canadian Code of Conduct for
Responsible Fishing by Canadian fishing organizations. All Ministers endorsed
the work of the Board in advancing the development and adoption of sustainable
fishing practices.
The next meeting of the Canadian
Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers will take place in Nunavut in the
summer of 2000.
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