Province Welcomes Apparent Progress

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Ernest Fage congratulated the Atlantic chiefs on their call for a voluntary 30-day lobster fishing moratorium. He also thanked the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Herb Dhaliwal, for his personal efforts with the chiefs to work toward an agreement.

"A negotiated moratorium is exactly what was needed to bring calm to the current fishing crisis," Mr. Fage said. "This time out gives everyone an opportunity to negotiate. Now we hope it's ratified by band members throughout the region."

"When I met with Mr. Dhaliwal yesterday, I said a decision was needed now. On behalf of the Nova Scotia government, I am pleased that this is apparently going to happen," Mr. Fage said. "We are hopeful that when the chiefs bring this agreement back to their band members, that it's greeted with the same spirit of optimism."

The impact of the new post-Marshall fishery on commercial fishermen and the economies of our coastal communities must be included in the upcoming negotiations, said Mr. Fage.

The Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Michael Baker, said he also wants to commend the leadership of Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy and national Chief Phil Fontaine, along with Nova Scotia chiefs Deborah Robinson of the Acadia First Nation and Frank Meuse of Bear River First Nation. Chief Robinson and Chief Meuse were the first to publicly agree to a fishing moratorium.