March 10, 2005 OTTAWA -- The Honourable Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), today announced his decision to stabilize existing sharing arrangements in 88 of 98 Atlantic fisheries. For the remaining ten, DFO will move forward to resolve outstanding issues and stabilize arrangements for the longer term in those fisheries as well. "Today I am announcing that sharing arrangements will be maintained, in a majority of fisheries, for a period of up to five years where shares are stable," said Minister Regan. "This will allow resource users to plan their business operations with even greater stability and certainty." This announcement builds on the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans' March 2004 announcement, in which the access and allocation components of most Atlantic management plans were stabilized for one year. It is also the next natural step since the March 2004 release of the Atlantic Fisheries Policy Framework committed to moving towards more stable and durable access and allocation process. In making this announcement, the Minister noted that he will respect co-management arrangements with resource users that provide for future sharing arrangements and will not preclude further such arrangements. "I also intend to work with resource users to address outstanding issues related to sharing arrangements where these continue to be in dispute, to put them on a more stable and durable footing as well," said Minister Regan. "This will be accomplished by adopting open and transparent processes with appropriate criteria, as outlined in the Atlantic Fisheries Policy Framework." The Minister noted that he has already taken steps in this direction with the establishment of the Scotian Shelf Crab Panel, set up to advise on access and allocation arrangements in that fishery. "I will be working with user groups and with Provinces and Territories on establishing these processes," Minister Regan added. While sharing arrangements are being stabilized in most cases for five years, this is subject to a number of considerations, including conservation, the need to be consistent with the constitutional protection provided to Aboriginal and treaty rights, as well as current and future agreements with Aboriginal groups. This announcement relates to sharing arrangements between commercial fleets - the area of most contention in recent years. The Minister specifically reserved the option of setting aside small amounts of the resource for public purposes, such as fleet rationalization (reduction) and to support co-management arrangements. He also pointed out that the stabilization of shares would not prohibit an appropriate redefinition of shares where the health or fishing boundaries of stocks have changed. "I am serious about change," said Minister Regan. "That could mean regulatory change, or even amendments to the Fisheries Act, to give us the tools we need to formalize sharing arrangements, once and for all. This longer-term stabilization reinforces my commitment to moving forward with a progressive, coherent and modernized fisheries management system." Fisheries Management Renewal is all about ensuring strong, sustainable fisheries for years to come. It seeks to build on and formalize existing initiatives that provide resource users with a greater voice in decision-making by advancing shared stewardship - shared responsibility, decision-making and accountability - with resource users. "I want to entrench the principle of co-management throughout Canada's fisheries and develop a range of measures and incentives to increase industry's participation throughout the decision-making process," said Minister Regan. "Achieving access and allocation stability is the crucial starting point for improving relationships with industry, other stakeholders and resource users. Improved relationships will provide for increased participation of resource users in the conservation, stewardship and management of their fisheries," said Minister Regan. A backgrounder listing the existing fisheries being stabilized can be found on the DFO website at: www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. -30- FOR MORE INFORMATION: Phil Jenkins Media Relations Fisheries and Oceans Canada Ottawa (613) 990-7537 Brian Underhill Director of Communications Office of the Minister Fisheries and Oceans Canada Ottawa (613) 992-3474
