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January, 2007 Edition
What's Happening at the FCC
European Union – 2007-09 Autonomous Import Quota regime
Cooked and Peeled Shrimp
The European Commission has considered 3 proposals regarding the tariff quota regime
for cooked & peeled shrimp for 2007-2009– the industry association coalition consisting
of the Fisheries Council of Canada, the Danish Seafood Association, the UK Frozen
Food Association, and the Swedish Seafood Association (20,000mt); the Danish
Government’s proposal (14,000mt), and Royal Greenland (12,000mt). The Danish
proposal was supported by the European processors association while the UK
government supported the industry coalition’s proposal. While the issue has not been
finalized, it appears the Commission is recommending a quota above the 14,000mt level.
The Commission has noted industry’s concern that a quota lower than 20,000mt would
enhance Royal Greenland’s monopolistic control of the supply of cooked & peeled
shrimp, jeopardizing the long-term viability of small/medium sized briners in Denmark
and Sweden.
Discussions are on-going. It appears the opening of the 2007 quota may be delayed
until the beginning of April.
Herring
Efforts are continuing to improve the 2007-2009 regime for herring products (herring
flaps & whole herring). With Poland, the Czech Republic, and Lithuania joining the EU,
their supply of Canadian product has become more expensive because of the 15% duty
and supplies have been reduced. The German fisheries association has joined our
efforts to get improvement in the regime.
DFO Renewal
The FCC met with DFO, Science to get an update on its Science Renewal initiative. Main
findings of the review were –weak priority setting mechanisms; inefficient delivery; losing
experienced staff; and severe funding pressures. In response to these findings, the
Department has established a Science Management Board (SMB), chaired by the Deputy
Minister and comprised of the Assistant Deputy Ministers of Fisheries & Aquaculture
Management, Science, and Oceans; Regional Director Generals from the Atlantic (currently
Jim Jones – Maritimes) and Pacific/Freshwater (currently Paul Sprout-Pacific);
representatives from DFO science centers in Halifax and BC, and the chair of the ADM,
Science’s Science Advisory Council. Two top priorities identified are support to the
Department’s commitment to ecosystem based fisheries/oceans management and
regeneration of the DFO science workforce.
Stock assessments continue to be a high priority. However, they will have to be done
differently and, perhaps, less often. Under an eco-system based regime, the assessments
will have to consider additional factors besides stock population issues – habitat, gear
employed, impact on other species, sensitive areas, other users, etc.
Endangered Species – Ministerial Roundtable
Patrick McGuinness was invited to make a panel presentation at the Minister of the
Environment’s Roundtable on the Species at Risk Act (SARA). Main points of the FCC
presentation were:
• SARA has only one conservation tool – prohibition. Blunt instruments often do not
work. We need to consider SARA and the Fisheries Act as complementary. In a
number of situations SARA and its blunt instrument will not be the appropriate tool for
conservation and rebuilding (e.g. Sakinaw/Cultus sockeye salmon). In such
situations, the wide range of tools available under the Fisheries Act will be more
appropriate
• Confidence in science is essential to have industry buy into the program. At present,
the industry lacks confidence in the endangered species science arm – COSEWIC
• Resources are limited. We need to be able to establish priorities.
• For seasonal industries such as the fisheries, the 9 month time period from the
COSEWIC recommendation to when the listing decision has to be made will often not
be adequate to undertake the necessary consultations and the required socioeconomic
analysis
Senate Committee on Fisheries – Ban on Bottom Trawling
The Senate Committee on Fisheries invited the FCC to meet with the Committee regarding
the debate in the UN concerning a ban on bottom trawling in unregulated areas of the high
seas. The main points of the FCC’s presentation were:
• The focus of the debate should be on introducing regulations to conserve sensitive
areas not demonizing a long standing and important fishing gear;
• All harvest of food has an impact on the environment. About 40% of the world’s wild
fish harvest is by bottom impact gear. Most bottom trawling takes place on flat or
undulating sea bottom, covered by muddy sediments or gravel and generally
unsuitable habitat for unique, vulnerable fauna such as deep water corrals. Trawling
in these areas does disturb the bottom sediments. However, the ecosystem impact
is minimal.
• Most trawling is not exploratory but fishing and re-fishing existing trawl paths. A ban
on trawling to conserve biodiversity is not justified.
Mercury in Fish
Health Canada plans to update its mercury in fish advisory in January. The FCC met with
Health Canada to express concern that the advisory may be counterproductive to the health
of Canadians if it causes Canadians to switch from seafood to less healthy foods. For
example, replacing convenient low-cost canned tuna with convenient, low-cost hot dogs.
Health Canada acknowledged the concern and agreed to allow the FCC to participate in the
message development and communication plan. Fleishman Hillard, with funding provided
by Connors Bros, CANFISCO, and Oceans, has been contracted by the FCC to work with
the FCC and Health Canada regarding the communications surrounding the mercury in fish
advisory.
Online Traceability for Lobsters
Ferguson, an Australian harvester/processor/exporter, has introduced a bar code tag on
their lobster product enabling the customer to trace back full details about the lobster. The
details, including catch location, can be retrieved online from the attached tag.
MSC Will Not Certify Barents Sea King Crab
The crab fishery in the Barents Sea is not eligible for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
certification because it is an introduced fishery. The Barents Sea is home to one of the
world’s newest crab boom. Russia and Norway have been conducting a legal crab fishery
there for less than 5 years. King crab was transplanted to the area by Russians about 60
years ago. The largely untapped resource is estimated at 12 million crabs.
The fishery, however, has become a centre of growing controversy. The US Alaskan Bering
Sea crab industry is pushing for trade action against Russian imports of King crab, much of
which is harvested illegally. Imports from Russia have grown from 10,000mt in 2004,
18,000mt in 2005, to an estimated 30,000mt in 2006.
Seafood Gaining Centre-of-the Plate
January Key Meetings
NAFO Consultation Meeting, Ottawa
“Ocean to Plate” fisheries management meeting, Ottawa
Lobster Summit Steering Group Meeting, Halifax
Sensitive Areas / Exploratory Fisheries meeting, Montreal
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