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November, 2007 Edition
What's Happening at the FCC
FCC Conference – Presentations are Available
The 2007 FCC Conference in Vancouver was a successful event, enjoyed by all – great food, great location, and informative presentations. The presentations of John Sackton on the outlook for seafood markets, Jim Cannon on the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, and Richard Keevil on what should be in a modernized fisheries act are now available on the FCC website.
FCC Board of Directors Meeting
The FCC Board of Directors met on the margins of the Conference. Issues discussed included Bill C-45 and possible follow up efforts regarding a modernized Canadian fisheries act; DFO’s planned Sustainable Development Framework; the results of the Lobster Summit held recently in Halifax; trade policy initiatives in the EU regarding improved market access for herring and yellowtail flounder products; CFIA’s plan to revise the export certification regime; Environment Canada and CFIA possible plant effluent initiatives; the emerging “Product of Canada” criteria debate; the mercury in fish communication challenge; possible exemption for certain transactions in the fishing industry regarding aspects of Measurement Canada’s weights & measures regulations and key objectives for the FCC in 2007/08.
FCC Annual General Meeting
The FCC’s AGM meeting in Vancouver elected a Board of Directors for 2007/08. Dave Giddens, Connors Bros. becomes Chairman, and Jeff Malloy, Acadian Fishermen’s Co-op. Assn. Ltd. was elected Vice Chairman. Delegates thanked Gilbert Linstead, Labrador Fishermen’s Union Shrimp Company, for his Chairmanship leadership in 2006/07.
FCC Key Objectives in 2007/08
At its meeting in Vancouver, The Board of Directors set the following key objectives for the F FCC in 2007/08:
Trade Policy/Market Access
work with the German Processors Association to get improved access into the European Union for herring and yellowtail flounder;
continue to press for significantly reduced across the board tariff cuts in the EU and targeted reductions in Japan’s tariffs in the WTO trade negotiations;
work with EU importers to establish an expanded EU import quota regime for lobster products.
Environmental/Ocean Use Issues
get improvements to the DFO/Environment Canada/COSEWIC policies, procedures, assessments, interactions, etc. regarding endangered species;
work to ensure that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s and Environment Canada’s fish plant effluent initiatives do not undermine economic viability and international competitiveness of the Canadian fish processing industry;
work to contain the impact of the boycott regarding the seal hunt.
Inspection/Technical Issues
work with CFIA to develop a high level natural consultation mechanism supported by structural regional consultation
work with CFIA to ensure the revised export certification regime is practical and continues to meet the needs of industry;
continue to pressure for a Canada-EU Fisheries Inspection Equivalency Agreement;
work with Health Canada and CFIA to get a reasonable regime in place regarding zero tolerance/trace amounts on certain contaminants;
get CFIA to get out of the business of certifying labels for export markets;
work with CFIA to get better integration between the regional offices and the national office;
work with Health Canada to restrict their mercury in fish communication initiatives to the health professional community;
work with the growing body of scientists to encourage health authorities in Canada and elsewhere to abandon the health advisory strategy regarding mercury in fish because the strategy is resulting in negative health consequences for people in general.
Fisheries Management/Economics
continue to work with DFO and Justice to ensure any initiatives to modernize Canada’s Fisheries Act are reflective of progressive fisheries management legislation in other countries (e.g. Ireland, New Zealand), recognize the importance of the fishery as a business, and stipulate that fishing licenses can legally assure rights of access to a specific portion of the harvest of the fishery.
continue to promote the need to ensure that business and economic factors are key determinates regarding fisheries management decisions;
continue to promote the increased use of right-based fisheries management to combat chronic overcapacity in the industry;
work with DFO to ensure that its Sustainable Development Framework meets industry’s needs regarding bottom impact, exploratory fishing, precautionary approvals, and forage species issues.
continue to lead industry efforts to develop consensus on initiatives that could deliver improved economics in the lobster sector
International Fisheries
continue to push for effective improvements in NAFO and in international fisheries law regarding straddling stocks.
FCC Accepted as Intervener in the Supreme Court of Canada’s “Saulinier Case”
The Supreme Court of Canada has accepted the FCC as an intervener in the “Saulnier Case”. The FCC will support the Nova Scotia Courts which ruled that a fishing licence does represent “personal property” under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA). Confirmation of this ruling is required in order to maintain the availability of secured financing to the fishing industry The FCC will be represented by FCC Associate Member, Stewart McKelvey, Halifax.
The Government of Canada has also been accepted as an intervener. While the government does not object to the rulings of the Nova Scotia Courts, it does not want the Supreme Court to expand the ruling to declare that a fishing licence constitutes property in common law.
Sustainable Development Framework
The FCC met DFO Fisheries Management on the margins of the Conference regarding DFO’s Sustainable Development Framework - a compendium of policies and initiatives that attempts to address current fisheries/environmental issues and the United Nations General Assembly resolutions. The Framework will include a Benthic Habitat Policy (Sensitive Areas), Forage Species Policy, a Precautionary Approach Framework regarding fisheries management, and a Fisheries Resource Sustainability Checklist. FCC has been involved in an informal working group regarding the development of the proposed Benthic Habitat Policy.
The Framework is an attempt by DFO fisheries Management to demonstrate its commitment to responsible fisheries management. It is also a response to the US NOAA which now publishes an annual “sustainability report” regarding the status of stocks managed by the various US Regional Councils.
EU Audit of Canadian Inspection System
Earlier in the year, EU food safety inspectors reviewed the CFIA fish inspection system. The Canadian system was reconfirmed that it meets EU import requirements. However, there was agreement that some adjustments will be made over time, namely – need for exporters to have some verification that the fishing vessel, landing site, transport vehicle and cold storage facility meet standards. CFIA is looking at the issue and will be using the FCC Technological Committee as a sounding board regarding possible revisions to the Canadian export certification regime;
Lobster Summit
The Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation (CCFI) with funding support from ACOA, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, the Atlantic provinces and Quebec organized a Lobster Summit in Halifax in November. Over 200 delegates attended. Lobster fishermen comprised 28% of the delegates, processors- 12%,, live lobster shippers -7%, buyers/wholesalers/distributors -3%, industry associations -8%, others (government, science community, etc) – 42%. The objective was to have an interactive dialogue on priorities for the lobster sector.
Proposed follow-up initiatives that received high levels of consensus were;
generic marketing campaign in Europe – 90%;
establish a Lobster Council to (i) foster collaborative efforts along the value chain (85%); (ii) undertake a marketing campaign (82%); and (iii) develop a market intelligence vehicle (81%);
establish a working group to address the competitive environment – 83%;
undertake a Marine Stewardship Council pre-assessment analysis – 83%;
generic marketing campaign in Asia – 80%;
the lobster sector would benefit from an eco-label certification – 72%;
most effective way to strength compliance is suspension of licences – 66%;
generic marketing campaign in the USA – 64%.
The Summit steering committee will meet in late November to determine what, if any, next steps are warranted.
USA Developing Regional Agreement to Raise Minimum Size for Caribbean Spiny Lobster.
Minimum size regulations for Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) vary by country. In 2003, the Western Central Atlantic Fisheries Commission (WECAFC) committed to harmonize national regulations where necessary to address responsible and sustainable fisheries among the member countries. The US is a member of WECAFC and funded a FAO workshop in the area which produced an agreement in principle among WECAFC participating members on a minimum size limit for the harvest of spiny lobster. As such, the US is now in negotiations with its industry and WECAFC to establish a minimum size that would be adopted throughout the region.
Booths Available in Canadian Stand at Upcoming Trade Shows
1. ProdExpo, Moscow, February 11-15, 2008.
ProdExpo is the largest annual food trade show in Russia and Eastern Europe. In 2007, 42,500 visited the show that featured 2,200 exhibitors from 61 countries.
Canada will have a stand at the show.
If interested contact Canadian Embassy in Moscow or Canadian Embassy in Brussels.
2. European Seafood Exposition, Brussels, April 22-24
The cost for a 9 sq. metre all inclusive turnkey booth in the Canadian Pavilion at the European Seafood Exposition is $8,500 (Cdn). A $2,000 non –refundable deposit is required to reserve the booth. The balanced is invoiced in January 2008. If interested, contact Angel Garcia.
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