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June 20, 2005 Report on Strategic Conservation Framework for St John’s, NL - The Fisheries Resource Conservation Council ( FRCC or Council) released today its Strategic Conservation Framework for Atlantic Snow Crab to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. The Framework, which was commissioned by the Minister, is aimed at providing recommendations to the Department and the industry on measures to enhance the long-term conservation of the resource and sustainability of the snow crab fishery Atlantic-wide. During the fall 2004, the FRCC held public consultations with snow crab stakeholders throughout Atlantic Canada and Québec. The Council also received many written briefs from interested parties. In December, the Council held a three-day workshop to seek the views of experienced fishermen, processors, scientists and fisheries managers on the concerns, opportunities, and options highlighted during public consultations. The Council identified three key principles to guide the achievement of sustainability for the snow crab fisheries. These principles are central to the strategic framework and the recommendations in the report:
In its report, the FRCC outlines the key issues facing the industry and provides recommendations to address these issues in the context of developing a long-term strategic approach to a sustainable snow crab fishery. The increased fishing effort and the lack of a modern management structure are challenges that industry and DFO will need to overcome to ensure, not only a sustainable fishery, but long-term conservation of the resource. The Council is not suggesting that it is too late to establish a sustainable snow crab industry throughout Atlantic Canada and Québec, however, it feels that immediate conservation measures are required to reverse the trend being experienced in certain areas. Planning for the implementation of a more conservation oriented harvest and a clear partnership with industry should be a focus of discussion and efforts over the coming months. “Many recommendations are directed towards increasing shared decision-making between DFO and stakeholders”, noted Mr. Jean Guy d’Entremont, Chairman of the FRCC. The report also highlights the problems associated with poor fishing practices by harvesters. “The traditional harvesters of the Atlantic snow crab industry have experienced first hand the significant resource decline in the 1980s and have been able to see a recovery from low resource abundance. Unfortunately, the lessons learned and the sharing of this knowledge between regions and among harvesters has not taken place. It was apparent to the Council that a structure is required to facilitate communication on an Atlantic wide basis” added Mr. d’Entremont. The FRCC’s report also addresses a number of uncertainties that are considered impediments to the future development of the industry and the sustainability of the resource. The report attempts to address these uncertainties, which deal with both the scientific knowledge and the socio-political environment. The report outlines the current landscape prevailing in the snow crab harvesting industry and focuses on the benefits that can be derived from cooperation between DFO and various participants in the snow crab industry. Finally, the FRCC recommends that management decisions be made in an open, transparent, and inclusive manner. It is important that such decisions strike a reasonable balance between resource conservation and socio-economic dependency if the snow crab fisheries are to continue to sustain coastal communities for the long-term. The full text of the report is available on the FRCC’s website at www.frcc-ccrh.ca -30- For information: Arthur Willett |
