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LETTER TO STAKEHOLDERS

August 25, 2004

Dear stakeholder,

In November 2003 the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans requested that the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council ( FRCC ) undertake a Strategic Conservation Framework for Atlantic Snow Crab (the Framework). During the months of September and October, the FRCC will hold consultations to gather information and input from stakeholders in preparation for the Framework. These sessions will help the FRCC develop a long term strategic direction that will contribute to ensuring sustainable use of the resource.

The FRCC is seeking comments on all matters pertaining to the conservation of Atlantic snow crab as well as new approaches and ideas. The following items are provided to illustrate the types of information the Council is seeking :

• major risk factors and problem areas with respect to overfishing, discarding, handling mortality, etc.
• impediments or gaps in the scientific information.
• adjustments required to the management regime for conservation purposes.
• existing best practices as well as new solutions or opportunities that would reduce risk factors and address problem areas.
• technologies that reduce risk to the resource
• alternative management regimes such as co-management and stewardship initiatives.
• alternative monitoring and surveillance processes that use innovative approaches to reduce risk and reduce costs.

Stakeholders are encouraged to make public presentations at the meetings or provide a written brief to the FRCC at P.O. Box 2001 , Station D, Ottawa , ON K1P 5W3 , fax (613) 998-1146, or send to info@frcc-ccrh.ca. More information can be obtained on the internet site at www.frcc-ccrh.ca. See attached consultation schedule.

thank you for your interest in the consultation process and encourage you to share this message with other stakeholders that may be interested in providing input to the FRCC .

Yours truly,

Jean Guy d’Entremont ,
Chairman