October 20, 2004 OTTAWA -- The Honourable Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), today called on all participants in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence fall herring fishery to carefully consider a new proposal aimed at ending a long-standing dispute. "We have done all we can to try to find a middle ground," said Minister Regan. "I understand there was reluctance among participants at today's meeting to accept the compromise. "But I believe the compromises put forward will provide the scientific basis for the long-term management of the fishery." At the meeting today in Moncton, N.B., DFO tabled a new formula to implement the proposed scientific fishery in the waters north of P.E.I. Attending the meeting were representatives from the PEI Fishermen's Association (PEIFA), from the eastern New Brunswick herring seiners, the RCMP, and officials from the PEI and New Brunswick provincial governments. Federal departments have worked with industry over the past several years in the search for a solution to this lengthy conflict that has occasionally flared into violence. Minister Regan called on the leaders of the provincial governments and the fisheries organizations to join him in using their influence to ensure a peaceful and orderly fishery. "I urge fishers to conduct themselves in a calm and professional manner," said Minister Regan, adding that "violence will not be tolerated." Today's meeting focused on three main points: the migration of herring stocks to the northeastern coast of PEI; details of a three-year scientific fishery; and how to avoid conflict at Souris when the seiners want to land their catch at the wharf owned by the federal government. "I would remind fishers from Prince Edward Island who have objected most strenuously to the seiner fishery that this is a legal fishery and that seiners have a legitimate right to fish and to land their catch without interference," said Minister Regan. "Fishery resources belong to the people of Canada, not to any particular group or province. Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, legitimate business interests have the right to pursue their livelihood without fear of intimidation or threat." The herring stocks of the southern Gulf are divided into two spawning components: spring and fall. Scientific assessments report that the fall spawning herring are a healthy and abundant stock while the spring spawning stock is currently below average. Within each component, there are also local differences in abundance. The design and operation of a purse seine is such that it is unlikely to cause ecological damage to the lobster habitat. The scientific fishery outlined by Minister Regan last month will provide further details on herring stocks, and the effect of purse seines, if any, on lobster habitat, herring mortality in release sets, and incidental catch of lobsters. Rather than returning to a closure line that existed in the early 1980s, DFO is working to find a solution that works in the current situation. Today, there are 6 herring seiners in the southern Gulf and five in Newfoundland and Labrador, compared to 65 seiners that were operating in the Gulf in the early sixties. Conservation measures and technological advances have also created modern-day means of ensuring conservation. -30- FOR MORE INFORMATION: Christiane Parcigneau Media Relations Fisheries and Oceans Canada Ottawa (613) 998-1530 Brian Underhill Director of Communications Office of the Minister Fisheries and Oceans Canada Ottawa (613) 992-3474
