Update on Canada's Actions Against Overfishing

September 2, 2004

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The Government of Canada has made considerable investments this year as part of a new federal strategy against overfishing:

• In March, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) committed $17.5 million to expand aerial surveillance and at-sea patrols in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Regulatory Area (NRA).
• In May, DFO committed an additional $15 million to further enhance surveillance and patrols, increasing one dedicated vessel in the NRA to three. This funding was also directed toward increased diplomatic interventions and to finance Canada's long-term agenda to change international fisheries governance.
• Later in the spring, a further $12.5 million was reallocated internally by DFO.

Since May, our patrol vessels have been on continuous duty, logging over 3,000 hours on the high seas. Canadian NAFO inspectors have conducted 123 inspections of foreign fishing trawlers, issuing 6 citations for fishing violations. At the same time, Canadian officials have met with a number of European counterparts to express Canada's concerns about overfishing. The Prime Minister also raised the issue with the European Union (EU) and French Presidents during the G8 Summit in June.

Using this two-pronged approach - strong, decisive enforcement and increased diplomatic efforts - we are starting to see promising results:

• We are seeing incremental, positive changes in foreign fishing behaviour. Foreign groundfish fleets have stopped fishing for moratoria species in the shallower waters of the NRA and have largely moved into deeper waters. The number of foreign vessels in NRA has decreased by one-third. Indications are that non-compliant vessel activity has also decreased, as the number of infractions has remained the same despite increased inspections.
• We are experiencing improved international co-operation. Canada has secured EU support for a technical consultation between Canadian and EU NAFO inspectors to develop a common understanding of the NAFO inspection process. Spain has invited Canada to participate in the inspection of the Spanish vessel, Dorneda, at a Spanish port, in the context of strengthened bilateral co-operation on fisheries' relations. We also succeeded in securing agreement from Denmark to stop Greenlandic and Faroese vessels from fishing in excess of their NAFO-set 3L shrimp quota.

We are aware that challenges remain. The critical fishing months in the NRA are just beginning and there is no easy or fast solution to the problem on a global basis. But, Canada's strategy is a long-term commitment for lasting change. We will continue to take decisive enforcement action and to work co-operatively with our international partners to build and strengthen alliances and identify ways to improve international fisheries governance for the benefit of all coastal communities.

Putting an end to overfishing is a top priority of the Government of Canada, and the number one priority of DFO. We are working hard to achieve this goal.

Backgrounders

• Diplomatic Co-operation Strengthening International Partnerships
• Enforcement and Surveillance Measures Changing Fishing Behaviour

Other

• Technical Briefing Presentation Graphics
• Photo Gallery
• New Measures to Combat Foreign Overfishing - June 2004