Minister Praises DFO Krill Decision

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell today praised a decision by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans not to open a krill fishery in Atlantic Canada.

"We are delighted that federal Fisheries Minister David Anderson listened to the submission made by Nova Scotians on this issue," said Mr. Colwell. "This decision recognizes that we must protect the food chain if we are to ensure long-term sustainability of our fishery."

Mr. Colwell was also concerned that a krill fishery would result in a bycatch of larval or juvenile stages of commercially important species. Some of these species are in a depressed state and must be protected through all life stages.

DFO's decision was made in response to a proposal for a 1,000-tonne krill fishery on the Scotian Shelf. Without a management policy in place for the species, Mr. Anderson said that the acceptance of one proposal would lead to an uninformed and potentially dangerous acceptance of others.