Snow Crab Decision Disappoints Minister

The recent decision by the federal fisheries department to not open the province''s eastern snow crab fishery in May is a great disappointment for the processing industry and the government said Ernest Fage, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans announcement indicates the season will not open early in Crab Fishing Areas 23 or 24 this year. Instead, most areas will open a month later than last year. This despite repeated requests from the province, plant workers, processors and some fishermen.

"For months the province of Nova Scotia has been advocating an early start to the snow crab seasons. In the past, we have seen large volumes of crab landed from these areas in very short periods of time," said the minister. "This has overwhelmed the production capacity of the plants, causing product to be shipped out of province or unreasonable delays in processing. It has diminished the overall economic benefit to the province."

Last year, the fishery opened in June and significantly more crab was processed in the province than ever before. This year, the province supported opening most of the fishery in areas 23 and 24 in June, but asked that some portions be opened in May to address the processing concerns. Opening portions of the fishery early would have spread out the landings and allowed a more orderly approach to processing.

"Compared to last year, this decision delays the season in most of Crab Fishery Areas 23 and 24 until July. I view this decision as a major step backward. The snow crab resource is finite and we must maximize the benefits from every pound that is caught.

"The processing sector is a legitimate component of the fishing industry and their perspective should have been given more consideration when this decision was made. I expected DFO to do a better job of balancing the interests of all sectors of the fishery," said Mr. Fage.

The minister said that conflicts with the shrimp fishery and the science survey are a concern in some areas but not in the offshore unsurveyed portion of Crab Fishery Areas 23 and 24.

"I am particularly disappointed that these areas will not open in May since there are many good reasons to do so and no compelling reasons not to," Mr. Fage said.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries will continue discussions with fishermen, processors and the federal fisheries department to address season openings for next year.

kjd May 3, 2001