Commitment to Aquaculture Key at Meeting

Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Ernest Fage is pleased and encouraged by progress made on a number of key issues, particularly aquaculture, at the annual meeting of the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers being held in Nunavut.

All ministers at the meeting reinforced their commitment to supporting and encouraging the aquaculture industry, including Herb Dhaliwal, the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

"The aquaculture industry is a high priority for Nova Scotia," said Mr. Fage from Nunavut. "I am pleased to see the federal government's financial support for this promising industry and Mr. Dhaliwal's statement of support."

Mr. Fage noted the dramatic increase in co-operation and communication on fisheries issues as a result of the creation of the council. The council and its six task groups were created under a provincial/territorial/federal agreement signed in September 1999. Nova Scotia chaired the process that lead to the council's development.

"I am very pleased with the work done by the task groups and firmly believe the progress that has been made on a number of fronts at this meeting is due to the establishment of the council and the commitment of all my counterparts across the country."

At the meeting, Mr. Fage pressured Mr. Dhaliwal to improve the federal approval processes for aquaculture sites, stressing the need for a timely decision-making process and suggesting the Department of Fisheries and Oceans adopt a maximum turnaround time of from 60 to 90 days.

Mr. Fage was encouraged by Mr. Dhaliwal's commitment to properly manage the native fishery to ensure conservation of stocks and safety for all harvesters.

"I definitely support the federal position of enforcing the rules and regulations in the lobster fishery," said Mr. Fage. "It is important that all fisheries be conducted under consistent and effective management plans."

At the meeting, the ministers also addressed the priority of emerging fisheries and agreed to a draft Canada-wide policy on Emerging Fisheries.

"This new policy will help foster the development of new fisheries and paves the way for negotiating a memorandum of understanding on developing species between Nova Scotia and the federal government," said Mr. Fage. "I am pleased my federal, provincial and territorial counterparts agreed on the importance of developing new fisheries and other opportunities that support the economic base of coastal communities."

Mr. Fage used the meeting to reiterate that it is a federal responsibility to make the necessary capital investments in Nova Scotia wharves and harbor infrastructures.

He also noted that progress was made at the meeting on several recreational fishing initiatives and that council task groups will be asked to do further work on federal and provincial issues that focus on the recreational fisheries over the coming year.

"It has been a productive meeting and I want to commend Nunavet and Alberta, and Ministers Kilabuk and Dhaliwal for chairing it."

The meeting was co-hosted by Alberta and Nunavut. Peter Kilabuk, Minister of Sustainable Development for Nunavet, and Mr. Dhaliwal served as co-chairs.