QP – Shrimp Quotas
The Honourable Senator Peter Harder, Government Representative in the Senate
June 22, 2016
Hon. Dennis Glen Patterson: Honourable senators, it seems that northern shrimp are migrating north to colder waters off Nunavut in response to warming waters further south. This is happening at the same time as DFO is reviewing its policies around reducing shrimp quotas. My conviction is that the policy being reviewed by DFO which is fondly known as LIFO, Last In, First Out — I am not really fond of it — is contrary to Canada’s solemn obligations under the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement to respect the principle of adjacency in allocating shrimp and other fisheries resources.
Very quickly: Will you advance my concerns expressed in my statement last week to the Minister of Fisheries?
Hon. Peter Harder (Government Representative in the Senate): Indeed, I will.
The Hon. the Speaker: I am sorry, honourable senators; the time for Question Period has expired.
Fisheries and Oceans
Shrimp Quotas
(Response to question raised by the Honourable Dennis Glen Patterson on June 22, 2016)
The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is aware of Canada’s obligations under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement as it relates to the principle of adjacency. He is cognizant that he must take into account treaty rights and requirements under the Land Claims Agreements in his decision-making with respect to the fishery.
In addition to the recent process of the Ministerial Advisory Panel on the Last In First Out (LIFO) policy, the Department engaged separately with Indigenous Groups and land claimants, including Nunavut stakeholders, seeking views on LIFO.
The Minister publically stated on July 6, 2016, “Proportional Sharing is consistent with the approach used in most other Canadian fisheries with respect to stock and allocation management. Applying this principled approach of Proportional Sharing means that the inshore and offshore fleets as well as Indigenous Peoples will continue to share in the economic benefits of this precious resource. Sharing arrangements must also respect land claims agreements and the interests of Indigenous groups as well as the interests of adjacent coastal communities.”
The Government of Canada will continue to seek to respect land claims agreements in our fisheries management decisions.