Minister Shea Provides Fishers with Long-term Economic Benefits

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island - On 4 March, the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, announced changes to the licensing policy for the Atlantic Canada and Quebec inshore fishery to allow for the issuing of licences to wholly owned companies. The new policy will go into effect on April 1, 2011, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

"Our Government is committed to building a foundation of economic strength for Atlantic Canada and Quebec's coastal communities by providing the inshore fleet with more flexibility in their financial dealings, while at the same time continuing to preserve the independence of individual inshore fishers," said Minister Shea.

The new policy authorizes qualified fishermen to request, on a voluntary basis, the re-issuance of their eligible licences to their wholly-owned company. The new policy on issuing licences to companies was developed following extensive consultations with industry members and with tax, legal and financial experts. It is consistent with the Government of Canada's policy on Preserving the Independence of the Inshore Fleet in Canada's Atlantic Fisheries (PIIFCAF). It supports an independent and economically viable inshore fleet, responds to the needs identified by fishers, and respects the long-standing owner-operator and fleet separation policies at the foundation of Eastern Canada's inshore fishery.

Eligibility criteria and information about the re-issuance process will be sent to independent core licence holders and are also available on the DFO website at www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca .