Minister Wants Approval of the Proposed Fisheries Act

It is time to approve the new federal Fisheries Act so industry can move forward, says Ron Chisholm, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

"The existing Act is over 130 years old and needs to be replaced," said Mr. Chisholm, today, Feb. 28. "I'm concerned that the proposed Fisheries Act is getting mired in the Parliamentary process."

The new Fisheries Act will allow Fisheries and Oceans to work with industry and provincial partners to manage today's fishery.

For example, the courts currently address illegal fisheries operations, and often the fines are minimal and ineffective in deterring illegal activity.

"Several years ago, a sanction program was introduced that was effective, but it was challenged and thrown out because the old Fisheries Act did not accommodate this approach. This important piece has since been corrected in the new Act," said Mr. Chisholm.

The new Fisheries Act allows for partnership between DFO and the provinces and allows for co-management plans between the industry and the federal department.

"We have been talking with many fishermen over the past few weeks and almost all agree that we need a new Fisheries Act," said Mr. Chisholm. "There are concerns but most are based on a lack of detail about what the new act will do, or misinformation."

Mr. Chisholm urges industry representatives to become more active and to learn more about the new act. And he urges all Members of Parliament from Nova Scotia to put industry first and work co-operatively to move this new act into law.

"If the act goes to second reading, there will be time for input through the fisheries standing committee," Mr. Chisholm. "If it doesn't go to second reading, it will get deferred for a least six months and it's very probable that this legislation will never make it through parliament."

Nova Scotia's fishing industry is worth more than a billion dollars.