CANADIAN FISHERY OFFICERS PARTICIPATE IN EU WORKSHOP FOR NAFO INSPECTORS

News Release

February 1, 2005 OTTAWA -The Honourable Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, reports that a workshop hosted by the European Union was held in Brussels, Belgium last week for inspectors of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). The workshop, held from January 25-27, was agreed to at the NAFO annual meeting last September. "The workshop was an excellent opportunity for Canada's inspectors to share how they conduct their inspections in the NAFO Regulatory Area and to learn how inspections are carried out by other NAFO Contracting Parties," said Minister Regan. "These exchanges will help NAFO understand how its inspection procedures are perceived, which is critical before the organization can move toward harmonizing the conduct of inspections by all NAFO members." NAFO inspection procedures are set out in the organization's conservation and enforcement measures. These measures permit inspectors from any NAFO Contracting Party to board and inspect vessels of other Contracting Parties that are fishing in the NAFO Regulatory Area (NRA) to verify compliance with NAFO measures, such as proper mesh size of fishing nets and operative satellite monitoring systems on board the vessel. The conservation and enforcement measures of NAFO also identify the procedures for inspectors if a citation is issued to a vessel master for an incident of non-compliance. A workshop that focuses on how the legal systems of Canada and Portugal deal with fisheries violations will also be held on February 9 and 10, 2005 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Legal advisors and officials from both countries will be presented with each other's judicial procedures for infractions. Minister Regan offered to have Canada host this workshop during his meeting last November with the Minister of Fisheries of Portugal, Dr. Costa Neves. "The bilateral Canada-Portugal legal workshop is an indication of the closer fisheries relationship that is being built between Canada and Portugal," said Minister Regan. "We recognize that information sharing is essential to develop a shared understanding of the respective systems in place in our respective countries to deal with fisheries violations." In 2004, the Government of Canada announced significant investments to enhance compliance monitoring and diplomatic actions to address overfishing in the NRA, as part of a new federal strategy to combat global overfishing and to improve international fisheries governance. The workshops are another example of Canada's actions to implement this strategy. Backgrounder NAFO At-Sea Inspection Procedures -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

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2016-12-15

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CANADIAN FISHERY OFFICERS PARTICIPATE IN EU WORKSHOP FOR NAFO INSPECTORS

News Release

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