Grand Banks fisheries management

CITIZENS SUPPORTING CANADA'S ASSERTING CUSTODIAL MANAGEMENT OF ALL FISHERIES ON ITS EASTERN CONTINENTAL SHELF, INCLUDING THE NOSE AND TAIL OF THE GRAND BANKS AND THE FLEMISH CAP.


TO: PRIME MINISTER JEAN CHRETIEN, THE HONOURABLE ROBERT G. THIBAULT, MINISTER OF FISHERIES AND OCEANS, AND ALL OTHER ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

Whereas uncontrolled overfishing by many foreign nations continues unabated in waters adjacent to the arbitrary boundary of Canada's 200-mile limit.

Whereas said overfishing has resulted in an alarming decline in Grand Banks fish stocks and the threatened extinction of some species, including the once abundant cod.

Whereas the Grand Banks of Newfoundland is one of the world's major sources of fish protein.

Whereas , NAFO, ( North Atlantic Fisheries Organization) under which jurisdiction the fisheries on the Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks and Flemish Cap is presently managed , has demonstrated over its 24 years of existence that it has little ability and apparently little willingness to control the predation of said fish stocks by non complying nations.

Whereas Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans appears to be subservient to the Departments of Trade and External Affairs in matters pertaining to the management of its fisheries resources, and thus is impotent in exerting any influence it might otherwise have in confronting the offending nations; as was demonstrated most recently by the Minister's refusal to even acknowledge recommendations proposed by a committee of his own government.

Whereas the overall mismanagement of the fisheries has resulted in the near population depletion of many Newfoundland and Labrador outports with consequent economic disaster and the tragic loss of a once viable way of life that sustained the inhabitants for centuries.

Whereas, unless there is immediate enforcement of conservation measures, little time remains before there is a major ecological catastrophe in the Grand Banks fisheries with repercussions of chilling proportions, especially to rural Newfoundland and Labrador and to other parts of Atlantic Canada.

We the undersigned respectfully request that the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans declare, unequivocally, at the upcoming NAFO meetings ( Galicia, Spain, Sept. 11 - 20) Canada's intention to begin the process of implementing custodial management of all those fisheries on the Grand Banks, including the Nose and Tail of the Banks and the Flemish Cap, for the purpose of rebuilding all fisheries to 1965/1970 levels for the benefit of Canadian coastal communities and others who wish to participate in a well-managed fishery in future. .
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