February 11, 2014 – Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada is pleased to announce that Mr. Greg Roach has been retained to work with the lobster industry in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 34 to develop a plan to improve the viability of the industry.
Mr. Roach will work with the industry to develop options for management measures that will better manage supply and improve prices. He will facilitate discussions on possible changes to the LFA 34 fishery with a variety of stakeholders such as licence holders, buyers, processors and First Nations, and will also work to develop a transparent process that will allow industry members to receive information, provide their feedback and express their support for implementing the different options.
Harvesters have expressed strong dissatisfaction with the price they have recently obtained for their catches. Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s mandate relates to the conservation of lobster stocks. Measures to improve market price and manage supply more effectively are therefore best developed by the industry-led process that Mr. Roach will facilitate.
Mr. Roach retired in 2012 as Associate Deputy Minister with the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Communications Branch
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Maritimes Region
(902) 426-3550
NR-MAR-14-02E
