Minister Shea Highlights Government of Canada's Leadership and Ongoing Support for Commercial Fish Harvesters

GEORGETOWN ROYALTY, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND--(Marketwired - July 9, 2015) - The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans delivered remarks today at the Eastern Fishermen's Federation 36^th Annual Meeting in Georgetown Royalty, Prince Edward Island. Her remarks focused on issues facing the fishing industry and the importance of leadership, innovation and collaboration.

During her remarks, the Minister reiterated the competitive advantage of free trade agreements for Canadian harvesters. Canada's free trade agreements with the European Union and with Korea will eliminate cost prohibitive tariffs and open up new markets for fish and seafood.

The Minister also emphasized her commitment to supporting an independent and prosperous inshore fleet through upholding the policy for Preserving the Independence of the Inshore Fleet in Canada's Atlantic Fishery (PIIFCAF). This policy ensures that inshore harvesters remain independent and that the benefit of fishing licences flow to the harvesters and their communities.

Minister Shea also highlighted several measures taken by the Harper Government since 2006 to support commercial fishermen such as unprecedented investments in the Small Craft Harbours Program, the Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Measures program and the extension of the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption to fishing businesses.

Quick Facts

• The European Union is the world's largest importer of fish and seafood products. Canada is the world's seventh-largest exporter of fish and seafood products.

• PIIFCAF was designed to strengthen Owner-Operator and Fleet Separation policies and required harvesters to declare whether they held licences subject to a controlling agreement.

• Small craft harbours (SCH) support the commercial fishing industry. The Government of Canada will be investing $288 million over two years in small craft harbours across the country. This is in addition to annual program funding as well as funding provided to the SCH program in the 2014 federal budget.

• The Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Measures program reduced the number of lobster traps and licences and improved the viability of the industry for lobster fishermen across Atlantic Canada.

• The Eastern Fishermen's Federation provides a voice for fish harvesters throughout the Gulf, Quebec and Scotia Fundy (Maritimes) regions.

Quotes

"Our Government's unprecedented investments in small craft harbours, in successful programs such as the Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Measures program as well as the extension of the Lifetime Capital Gains Exemption to fishing businesses are clear evidence of our commitment toward Canadian fishermen. Our Government believes in the future of our fisheries and is committed to continue to do its part to be an active partner in providing leadership, innovation and collaboration."

The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

Associated Links

Eastern Fishermen's Federation

Internet: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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