Summary of 2004 Meetings with Herring Stakeholders

June 25, 2004

The Regional Director General (RDG) for Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Gulf Region, met with provincial deputies of the Departments of Fisheries and Aquaculture for New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island to discuss whether they agree with the key issues identified by Mr. Allister Surette in his report on the NB-PEI herring dispute. Parties also discussed whether or not they would agree to work collaboratively to recommend a solution to the conflict that would be acceptable to all parties.

Both parties agreed to direct their respective officials to meet to explore how to move forward to avoid conflict and examine the scope of ideas collectively, without restating old positions.

June 30, 2004 - July 28, 2004 - August 12, 2004

A working group made up of DFO officials and representatives from the provinces of NB and PEI met on three occasions. Over the course of these meetings the groups:

• Reviewed the key issues raised by Surette in his report;
• Brainstormed to find potential responses to each issue;
• Reviewed a draft plan describing potential monitoring activities and scientific studies that could help resolve the conflict;
• Discussed how to engage local fishers in PEI and NB in exchanging information and obtaining commitments on agreements that would help resolve the conflict;
• Explored possible solutions to the two main issues (habitat and local stocks) and expected implications on both fleets;
• Discussed how to facilitate the decision making process.

Two ancillary issues were also raised: Poor herring quality (high histamine levels) and weakness of inshore markets for herring roe in 2004 and how these concerns could increase the tension level between the two fleets.

July 7, 2004

The Gulf Region's RDG met with the Barry Group (Seiner representatives), followed by a meeting with the Barry Group and the Deputy Ministers from PEI and NB.

August 25, 2004

Gulf Region officials met separately with the PEI Fisherman's Association (PEIFA) Herring Advisory Board and the Eastern New Brunswick (ENB) large herring seiner licence holders in Moncton, NB. Meetings seemed to go well. Discussions were cordial and constructive and it was agreed that another meeting between the three parties (DFO, PEIFA, seiners) would be held in Charlottetown on September 3. The Province of New Brunswick sent representatives to both of these meetings, but not the province of PEI.

September 3, 2004

Gulf Region officials met in Charlottetown with both the PEIFA Herring Advisory Board and the ENB large herring seiner licence holders to discuss ways to avoid a conflict. During this meeting, the PEIFA asked for implementation of a 25 fathom line around the whole north side of PEI plus a 25 per cent cap on catches by seiners outside that line.

The seiners did not agree, stating they would not catch any herring beyond 25 fathoms. However, seiners offered to limit their herring catches to 50 per cent of their 4TVn quota inside the 1983 exclusion zone, between 17 and approximately 25 fathoms off northeastern PEI, to address the concerns of PEI fishers while science work was being conducted (There would be no cap off PEI outside the 1983 box). Both groups agreed to have a second meeting.

September 11, 2004

Gulf Region officials met again with PEIFA and ENB seiners. At this meeting, the seiners representatives put forward a proposal on management measures for a three year period, during which proposed science work would be conducted. The proposal included status quo on the 2003 exclusion zone and a cap off PEI of 50 per cent of their 4TVn quota inside the 1983 exclusion zone, between 17 and approximately 25 fathoms. They also offered to limit their catch to half of this 50 per cent - or 25 per cent - between a depth of 17 and 20 fathoms (There would be no cap off PEI outside the 1983 box).

This proposal was conditional on being able to safely land their catch in PEI. This proposal was turned down by PEIFA members on September 17. Furthermore, PEI passed a motion reiterating the PEIFA position as presented in the Surette report as the definitive position of the PEIFA membership and stated that they do not intend to negotiate further.

October 1, 2004

Gulf Region officials and the RCMP liaison officers from NB and PEI met with the ENB seiners in Miramichi to discuss the implementation of the Minister's decision off PEI and questions around assuring the seiners' security when fishing off PEI.

October 6, 2004

Gulf Region officials and the RCMP liaison officers from PEI met with the PEIFA in Charlottetown to discuss the implementation of the Minister's decision off PEI.

October 7, 2004

Gulf Region officials held a conference call with the seiner representatives to provide an update.

October 20, 2004

DFO Head Office and Regional officials met with PEI and NB provincial Deputy Ministers and representatives of the PEIFA, ENB seiners and the RCMP in Moncton, NB. At this meeting, there was significant discussion of a draft science protocol as well as the details and implications of the Minister's September 24^th decision on the herring seiners fishery management plan. No consensus was reached in this meeting but there was an agreement by both fleets to discuss a proposal put on the table regarding the conduct of the scientific fishery between 17 and 20 fathoms.

October 22, 2004 - October 25, 2004

Gulf Region officials held a conference call with the seiner representatives and the PEIFA to discuss the details surrounding the implementation of the scientific fishery off PEI.