Fisheries Minister Concerned About Changes to Sea Scallop Fishery

AGRICULTURE/FISHERIES--Fisheries Minister Concerned About Changes to Sea Scallop Fishery

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Chris d'Entremont is calling on the federal government to leave the offshore sea scallop fishery alone.

The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is considering changing the management plan so a portion of the fishery is moved from offshore licence holders to inshore fishermen in Newfoundland.

"The offshore scallop fishery has been fully subscribed and stable for many years. It now appears that DFO is considering taking resource away from the offshore fleet, which includes Nova Scotia fishermen, and giving it to another fleet that has no history in this fishery," said Mr. d'Entremont.

This action would contradict federal policies and many recent statements by representatives of the federal fisheries department regarding transparency and stability in fisheries management.

"If taken, this decision would be a political one that undermines many modern principles of fisheries management. In effect it will impose resource sharing on offshore scallop licence holders with no consultation or even information provided to them," said Mr. d'Entremont.

A federal decision is expected to be released shortly.