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The United States continue to be the most important destination for Canada’s seafood exports (CAD 2.7 billion) Mercury in Fish Health Canada plans to revise its current guidelines and consumer advisory regarding mercury in fish. A major change is a proposed advisory for pregnant women and young children to limit their consumption of canned albacore tuna. Canned tuna is well within the .5ppm guideline. Of the various types of canned tuna, canned albacore tuna has generally the highest level of mercury in the .1 - .3 ppm range. Health Canada believes that because of the high level of consumption of canned tuna, an advisory regarding canned albacore tuna is warranted. The FCC is in discussion with Health Canada opposing this proposal. Based on the experience over the past year in the US, the Canadian canned tuna industry is concerned that any revised advisory regarding mercury in fish will generate considerable media attention and, in the end, mercury and canned tuna get linked and consumption declines. As a result, the sector has agreed to make preparations now to be able to respond professionally and timely to media reports, etc. that are misinformed, misleading, etc. As such, the FCC is seeking a proposal from the public relations firm, Fleischman-Hilard Canada (F-H), to handle the communications requirements. F-H is handling the mercury in fish issue in the US for the US Tuna Foundation. The project would be fully funded by the companies. F-H would prepare all the communications material and handle the media relations. The material would be issued under the FCC banner. NAFO The 2006 NAFO meeting was held in Halifax in September. Three main objectives for Canada were obtained: - establishment of a dispute settlement procedure which provides for an independent panel to review and render recommendations regarding objections filed by a member regarding a NAFO decision; - vessels caught misreporting their catch will be removed from the fishery for an immediate port inspection. Other serious infringements, including directing for moratorium species and repeat offenses will lead to similar consequences; - establishment of sanction guidelines when vessels are caught breaking the rules: countries will be obliged to impose a fine, suspend or withdraw a license or catch quota, or seize gear or the illegal catch. US Magnuson - Stevens Act The US fisheries management act, the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) is going through Congress to be re-authorized. The final re-authorized Act will set in place a national policy regarding individual transferable fishing quotas (“limited access privilege programs”). Most likely, the quotas will be available to processing companies. Alaskan Senator Stevens has been vocal that he’ll introduce an amendment that only processing companies with 75% US ownership would be eligible to hold the fishing quotas. Such an amendment would have immediate impact on a Canadian owned processing plant in Alaska and clam/quahog operation on the US East Coast. As well, it would undermine investment opportunities for Canadian companies if additional US fisheries become ITQ fisheries (e.g. herring, lobster, etc.) The FCC has worked with the Pacific Seafood Processors Association (PSPA), Seattle (which has Canadian and Japanese members that have processing plants in Alaska) to get Senator Stevens to reverse his position. The FCC chaired a strategy session at the Canadian embassy in Washington comprised of representatives of International Trade Canada, PSPA, and the Japan Fisheries Association. The campaign has been successful in getting a number of letters sent by Alaskan and Washington based organizations and communities, including the Alaskan State Chamber of Commerce, to Senator Stevens opposing his proposed amendment. International Trade Canada has met with the Departments of State, Treasury, and Trade pointing out that while NAFTA does allow for discriminatory provisions regarding fishing vessels, however, under NAFTA, Canadian fish processing operations must receive equal treatment regarding rules, regulations, etc. as US owned plants. Recently in a telephone conference call between the Alaskan State Chamber of Commerce and the Congressmen and Senators from Alaska, Senator Stevens, in response to a direct question, replied that he has worked for many years to Americanize the Alaskan industry, especially the harvesting side, but that he does not think it is a good idea to restrict investment in processing. As such, it appears our efforts are gaining ground. Lobsters – Walmart: Sustainability/Well Managed Wal-Mart had contacted one of the major US importers of Canadian Atlantic lobster requesting the company to document that Canada’s Atlantic lobster fishery is “sustainable and well managed. The FCC worked with DFO, Fisheries Management, which produced a letter on the management of the Canadian lobster fishery signed by the Assistant Deputy Minister, Fisheries Management. The FCC is working with the US importer and the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) regarding a presentation to Wal-Mart to get their acceptance of the letter as official confirmation that our lobster fishery is sustainable and well managed. Measurement Canada – Review Measurement Canada, an Agency of Industry Canada, has commenced an 18 month review of the rules and practices governing the buying and selling of fish, maritime vegetation, and fish products based on measurement. The Agency wants to establish an appropriate level of intervention to ensure accuracy in trade measurement in the industry. The following meetings have been established to provide industry members the opportunity to review the proposals. To learn more about the initiative and the proposals go to www.mc.ic.gc.ca (click on Sector Review – Fishing and Fish Products – Discussion Trade Mission to Turkey A Canadian Agri-Food Mission to Turkey is scheduled for November 6-10. The mission will visit Istanbul, Mersin, Ankara and Izmir. October Meetings FCC Board of Directors, Toronto The board will be reviewing some key policy issues, establish a budget for 2006/07, and identify the key objectives for the FCC for 2006/07 Annual General Meeting, Toronto Delegates will establish member assessments for 2006/07 and elect the 2006/07 Board of Directors including the 2006/07 Vice Chairman Aquatic Animal Health Committee, Ottawa The Committee will review progress by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and DFO regarding the establishment of a regulatory framework to meet the reporting requirements of the World Organization for Animal Health under its Aquatic Animal Health Code of which Canada is a signatory.  |