Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador Partner With Fishing Industry to Fund Lobster Sustainability Plan

November 18, 2011

ST. JOHN’S, NL –The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced that a sustainability and conservation plan developed by the Fish, Food and Allied Workers (FFAW), on behalf of lobster harvesters in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region, has been approved under the Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Measures Program.

Under the Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Measures Program, the Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will each contribute over $9 million. The program encourages the long-term sustainability and economic prosperity for the lobster fishery in Atlantic Canada by supporting conservation practices that maintain and enhance lobster stocks, improve catch monitoring and fishing effort reporting.

“Our government recognizes how important the lobster industry is to Newfoundland and Labrador, and I am proud that our government has worked with the industry and province to put in place measures to help lobster fishermen through tough economic times,” said Minister Ashfield. "In addition, the conservation plan announced today will help ensure sustainability and economic prosperity of the lobster fishery into the future.”

“The Provincial Government was pleased to collaborate on this important initiative to achieve better outcomes for participants in the provincial lobster industry,” said Minister King. “This unique arrangement, made possible with the support of our federal counterparts, will significantly enhance conservation measures and improve the viability of lobster fishing enterprises in economically challenged areas of the province that are highly reliant on this resource.”

The plan is comprised of three elements: a science and conservation plan to be implemented in all Newfoundland and Labrador Lobster Fishing Areas and in southwest and western Newfoundland, trap reductions and a lobster enterprise retirement program. Conservation and stewardship efforts such as these improve lobster population productivity and ensure adequate fishery, biological and ecosystem impact information is gathered to support fisheries management and science processes.

As well the lobster harvesters in western and southwestern Newfoundland (Lobster Fishing Areas 11 to 14B) will reduce the total number of lobster traps by 47,200 or 16 per cent of the total traps fished. The value of this lobster trap reduction is $11.4 million. Lobster trap reductions and retirements reduce fishing effort and can increase the average income of remaining participants.

"We developed this proposal, with the full participation of our affected membership, with two objectives in mind - improving the sustainability of the resource and improving incomes for people who depend on the lobster fishery for their livelihood," said Earle McCurdy, President of Fish, Food and Allied Workers.

The Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Measures Program announced by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada in 2009 covers all lobster fishing areas in Atlantic Canada and Quebec. Lobster fishing organizations can secure funding from the program by developing a sustainability plan for approval. Details are available on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada website http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/peches-fisheries/fish-ren-peche/lobster-homard/alsm-mdih-eng.htm

For Broadcast:

The Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador have announced funding of over $18 million in support of a conservation and sustainability plan for the Newfoundland lobster fishery. The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Newfoundland and Labrador made the announcement today as part of the Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Measures Program, announced by the Government of Canada in 2009.

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Background information:

• Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador Partner with Fishing Industry Partner to Fund Lobster Sustainability Plan

For more information:

NR-NL-11-09