|
Ottawa Update April, 2005 Edition
Building a Fishery That Works
What's Happening at the FCC
FCC Board of Directors Spring Ottawa Meeting
The FCC Board of Directors met in Ottawa on March 22. In the afternoon, senior DFO
executives (Deputy Minister, Larry Murray, and the Assistant Deputy Ministers for Fisheries &
Aquaculture Management, Science, Oceans, and Policy) joined the Board to review a number of
issues. In the evening, the Board and officials were joined by Minister Regan and two of his
staff for a reception and dinner.
Main issues discussed with the officials were DFO’s priorities for 2005/6; Fisheries Renewal;
the status of Atlantic cod & cusk endangered species proposed listing; the upcoming High Seas
Fisheries Conference in St. John’s; Science direction regarding single species stock
assessments; ENGOs campaign to stigmatize bottom trawling in UN multilateral fora; and the
Oceans Action Plan. A number of undertakings were agreed upon:
Endangered Species
As a follow up to the DFO/FCC workshop, FCC Oceans Use/Endangered Species
Committee will meet with DFO to review the results of the DFO/COSEWIC/NL criteria
workshop and other high priority concerns regarding the legislation, such as COSEWIC
operational procedures and policies, integration of DFO science and COSEWIC
assessments, etc.
St. John’s High Seas Governance Conference
DFO will organize a stakeholder’s consultation in order to further discussions regarding
objectives, positions, and strategies. A consultation meeting is scheduled for April 6 in
Halifax.
Co-Management Arrangements
It was noted that DFO-Industry co-management arrangements have taken many forms
regarding industry’s contribution to the management of the fisheries, its science,
enforcement, monitoring, etc. The arrangements have become wide-ranging. As such,
follow-up focused discussions regarding principles, objectives, funding arrangements,
etc. concerning co-management arrangements should be pursued between the FCC and
DFO.
Cooked & Peeled Shrimp – EU
The hoped for approval of the proposed 14,000mt EU import quota for cooked and peeled
shrimp at the March 16th meeting of the European Commission’s Management Committee meeting
did not occur. France and Italy had advised the Commission that they would block approval
unless the Commission also proposed an increase in the import quota for tuna loins. In response,
Spain advised they would block any proposal that contained an increase in the quota for tuna
loins. As a result of this disagreement, the Commission was unable to table a compromise tariff
quota package at the March 16th meeting.
However, at the insistence of the UK government, the Commission undertook to see if a
compromise could be worked out among Spain, France, and Italy. Even if a compromise cannot
be reached on tuna loins, the Commission agreed to provide documentation on the agreed
compromises for cooked & peeled shrimp, dressed cod, and squid, for discussion and vote at the
May 16th meeting of the Management Committee.
Notwithstanding the above hiccup, the FCC and its like-minded European industry associations
remain optimistic that the increased shrimp quota will be approved for 2005 and 2006. The
delay, however, pushes back the expected effective date of the additional 2005 quota into
October/November.
Boston Seafood Show
Patrick McGuinness co-moderated an industry roundtable breakfast session sponsored by DFO
and ACOA at the Boston Seafood Show. Minister McGuire represented ACOA and
Parliamentary Secretary Murphy represented DFO.
FAO
As Vice Chair of the International Coalition of Fisheries Associations (ICFA), Patrick
McGuinness participated in the recent FAO, Committee on Fisheries in Rome. The main focus of
ICFA’s participation was to combat initiatives aimed at stigmatizing bottom trawling and to voice
caution regarding the promotion of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as a fisheries management
tool.
NAFO
Government/Industry consultations were held in Halifax to further discussions regarding
Canada’s objectives and strategies regarding the September NAFO meeting.
New FCC Members.
Northern Coalition: The Northern Coalition has joined the FCC as a Sector Association. The
Coalition was formed in 1996 to protect shrimp allocations of its member companies in Nunavut,
northern Quebec, Labrador, and northern Newfoundland.
Makivik Corporation: Makivik Corporation has joined the FCC as an Associate Member. Makivik
is a non-profit company owned by the Inuit people of northern Quebec. It has an off-shore
shrimp license.
Inspection/Technical Issues
Nutritional Labelling
There is some confusion regarding when Canada’s new nutrition labelling regulations become
effective regarding products in the plants and products on the retail shelves. Below is a
clarification provided by CFIA’s seafood division and confirmed by the Fair Labelling Practices
Program:
“All domestic and imported products that have been already at retailers before December 12,
2005, or have been imported or processed/packed before this date, and have the old nutritional
panel or no nutritional labelling at all will not be action. It has not been decided for how long but
at least for 1 year. All products processed or imported after this date must have the new
nutritional labelling. In the first year, the compliance action will be mostly based on education,
and CFIA will take a "strong" action only if there is any health hazard related to wrong
information in nutritional panel or in claims. Trans fatty acids, saturated fatty acids and sodium
declaration and related claims will be targeted in the first year because as you know they can
pose health risk.”
Toothfish/Chilean Seabass – Dissostichus spp: New Import Requirement
As of April 1, 2005, importers must provide DFO a validated Dissostichus Catch Document
(DCD) at least 72 hours before the expected time of arrival of the shipment. The DCD
identifies the origin of the toothfish and demonstrates that the fish has been caught legally.
Fax the document to:
Chantal Lamadeleine
International Affairs Directorate
DFO, Ottawa
Fax 613-993 5995
e-mail: Lamadelc@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
If the product is to be re-exported, a DFO re-export document is required. Contact Ms.
Lamadeleine to obtain the re-export document.
Tuna & Swordfish: New Import Requirement
As of April 1, 2005, importers must provide DFO an ICCAT Statistical Document for imports of
Atlantic bluefin, Northern bluefin, Pacific bluefin, Southern bluefin, and Bigeye tunas and
swordfish at least 48 hours before the expected time of arrival of the shipment. The document
provides information on area of catch, point of export, gear used, flag state of vessel, etc. The
information is used to determine whether the fish was caught in compliance with ICCAT
conservation and management measures.
Fax the document to:
Sylvie Lapointe
International Affairs Directorate
DFO, Ottawa
Fax 613-993-5995
e-mail: lapointesy@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
If the product is to be re-exported, a DFO re-export document is required. Contact Ms.
Lapointe to obtain the re-export document.
Market Reports
Iceland Capelin Roe
A general consensus has been reached that production in the Icelandic fishery – mature and
immature roe – is expected to reach between 9,000 and 9,500mt for the season, considerably
higher than the 8,000 mt. produced last year.
|
