President's Report

The Fisheries Council of Canada continues to be Canada’s commercial fishing industry's voice in Ottawa trying to influence the decision and policies of Fisheries & Oceans, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, International Trade, Foreign Affairs, Environment Canada, Human Resources & Social Development, and Finance as well as foreign governments regarding access to their markets.

Recent key activities included:

  1. Market Access/Trade Policy

    USA

    • worked with US officials to get an exception for traditionally traded products (e.g. live lobster, fresh herring) from the must be processed in the US requirement in the revised US Fisheries Act. Also, worked with the Pacific Seafood Processors Association, Seattle, to stop an initiative to impose a US citizen requirement for processors to be eligible for ITQ’s;
    • worked with the Government of Canada, US Food and Drug Administration, US Customs Bureau, and the US seafood industry to get workable prior notice and plant registration rules introduced regarding the US Bioterrorism Act;
    • worked with the Government of Canada, US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the US seafood industry to change directions for USDA regarding its Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) initiative;
    • successfully combated Oregon shrimp harvesters regarding their attempt to get dumping and countervail duties imposed on Canadian cooked and peeled shrimp.

    European Union (EU)

    • representing the Canadian industry in the Canada-EU Trade Agreement negotiations
    • organized a coalition of Canadian, Danish, Swedish, and UK industry representatives to get an increase in the EU’s tariff quota on the import of cooked and peeled shrimp from 7,000 to 20,000 tonnes.
    • worked with like-minded EU trade associations to get improved import quota arrangements for cooked & peeled shrimp, lobster, herring, mackerel, freshwater, and flat fish species in the 2010-13 regime.
    • instrumental in reducing tariff access to the EU market for a wide range of products – shell-on shrimp, herring, salted cod products, etc.
    • coordinating Canadian industry’s input regarding the EU’s proposed catch certification regime

    Russia

    • organized industry to meet the filing deadline for the approved exporter list.

    World Trade Organization (WTO)

    • main contact for Canada’s trade negotiators regarding Canada’s fish and seafood interests and priorities concerning the current Doha WTO Round of negotiations

  2. Inspection/Technical Issues

    • represent the Canadian seafood industry regarding comments etc. concerning the Food Safety Enhancement Act proceeding through US legislation
    • FCC in partnership with Silliker and in cooperation with CFIA presented food safety workshops in Burnaby, BC and Toronto on sensory analysis, sampling mythology, net content determination & can integrity
    • worked closely with CFIA and industry to develop a workable Canada-Russia arrangement;
    • instrumental in getting the European Union to amend its initiative regarding the testing for cadmium in lobsters;
    • instrumental in getting China to introduce a user-friendly fish and seafood market import certificate;
    • instrumental in getting CFIA to exempt wild fish imports from its ban on seafood imports from China and Viet Nam;
    • represents industry on CFIA’s Aquatic Animal Health Committee. Issues under discussion are import certificates and plant effluents.
    • pressured CFIA to initiate a dedicated short-weight inspection initiative;
    • FCC’s Technological Committee is CFIA’s point of contact regarding technical policies and initiatives on labelling, QMP revisions, verification, standards, etc.;
    • FCC’s President is the Treasurer of the International Association of Fish Inspectors. The relationships developed with key officials of the US and EU inspection authorities have proved very beneficial in addressing specific inspection/food safety issues eg. EU - cadmium in lobsters; US - bioterrorism regulations in traceability in seafood (excluded fishing vessels);
    • FCC is Health Canada’s point of contact regarding fish and seafood food safety issues;
    • FCC is Canada’s fish and seafood point of contact regarding the work of CODEX – the UN’s organization that develops international food safety and labelling standards.
    • FCC President represents the Canadian seafood industry on Aquaculture & Agri-Food Canada’s Food Safety Subcommittee.

  3. Environmental/Ocean Use Issues

    • FCC made a presentation to the House of Common’s Environment & Sustainable Development Committees in its review of the Species-at-Risk Act. The FCC’s presentation focussed on four policy areas that need to be changed.
    • instrumental in getting oil and gas regulatory agencies to establish processes so that the concerns of the fishing industry are addressed regarding areas to be explored and developed.
    • FCC is a member of the Environment Minister’s Species at Risk Advisory Committee. The committee will help guide the Minister as the new endangered species legislation is implemented. In addition, FCC organized a workshop with DFO on endangered species that led to a more comprehensive and coordinated DFO-industry approach to the endangered species legislation. As well, FCC is campaigning for more appropriate fisheries criteria when evaluating whether a species is endangered or not.

  4. International Fisheries Issues

    • FCC campaigned to get Canada to resume a leadership role in protecting straddling stocks from high seas long-distance fishing nations. FCC coordinated a study/report on what needs to be done and options on how to get there. The report was undertaken by the Dalhousie Law School.

  5. Fisheries Management

    • work to ensure processor needs and the demands of the marketplace are integral components in DFO’s fisheries management plans;
    • work to expand ITQ fisheries and co-management arrangements;
    • formed informal DFO-FCC working groups to develop policies on sensitive areas; exploratory fishing; and precautionary approach. Work is continuing to develop a risk assessment framework for addressing better habitat impact.
    • formed a MPA Network working group to influence DFO’s emerging policies in this area
    • FCC is campaigning for DFO to establish a uniform licence fee regime – 1% - 2% of landed value.

  6. Communications

    • in collaboration with DFO, the FCC produced a multi-colored brochure to combat negative media stories on the commercial fishing industry. The brochure explains: fisheries management in Canada, efforts to protect the marine environment, monitoring and control of Canada’s fisheries, avoiding and eliminating by-catch, selectivity and improvement of fishing gear, fisheries research, BC salmon management.
    • members receive the FCC’s monthly newsletter Building A Fishery That Works: Ottawa Update. It provides updates on FCC activities; Canadian and international fisheries issues; trade policy and market access issues; inspection; technical issues; environmental issues; and market reports.
    • members’ products and services are promoted in FCC’s annual Fish and Seafood Products & Services Directory.
    • members are also listed on FCC’s web site (www.fisheriescouncil.ca) with direct links to members’ own web sites.

 

GOVERNANCE

FCC is directed by a Board of Directors. Each processor association or group of direct corporate processor members gets one board member per 5% of the assessments.

FCC staff work with the Market Access /Trade Policy; Inspection/Technical; Environmental/Ocean Use; International Fisheries and ImportCommittees to get direct member input regarding issues. These committees are open to members that want to have an impact on emerging issues.

The Board of Directors

The Board of Directors met two times during the year. The October 2009 meeting in Charlotteltown set the direction for the FCC for 2009/10. The April 2010 meeting was held in Ottawa. An afternoon session was held with the Deputy Minister and senior officials of the Department of Fisheries & Oceans on a wide range of issues. In the evening, the Board hosted a reception and dinner with the Deputy Minister and senior officials of DFO.

Market Access /Trade Policy

This committee provides input and direction regarding trade policy issues. Its current focus is on the Canada-EU Free Trade negotiations.

Inspection/Technical Committee

This committee continually reviews issues and provides advice to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada.

Environmental/Ocean Use Issues

This committee directs the FCC regarding ocean conflict issues (oil, gas, cables); the FCC’s interaction and responses to environmental issues and challenges; and endangered species issues. Major focuses this year have been the review of the Species-at-Risk Act & DFO’s network of MPA’s initiative.

Import Committee

This committee was established in 2008 to focus on (i) CFIA’s initiative to revise the QMPI program (ii) to eliminate short-weight products in the Canadian seafood market; and (iii) work with Health Canada and CFIA to modernize Canada’s aquaculture drug residue regime.

International Fisheries Committee

This committee is concerned with international fisheries issues such as the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), better conservation of straddling stocks, and bilateral fisheries consultations.

 

OTHER ASSOCIATION RELATIONSHIPS

The Fisheries Council of Canada is itself a member of relevant organizations and committees. Our objective is to use our participation to influence policy and programs of these groups to the benefit of the industry. Our participation requires time and travel, but has proved to be an effective way to extend the influence of the processor industry.

International Coalition of Fisheries Associations (ICFA) Started in 1986 by Canada, Japan, and USA national associations, this organization has grown to some 15 nations and represents a significant proportion of the world commercial fisheries.

ICFA has a good working relationship with FAO Fisheries Division and participates in numerous multilateral fora such as the FAO Committee of Fisheries in Rome, CITES, and IWC. In recent years, ICFA has also developed a good working relationship with the UN’s Oceans & Law of the Sea Division. At a recent FAO meeting, which included some 53 registered ENGOs (Greenpeace, WWF, IUCN, etc), ICFA was the only active voice on behalf of the commercial fisheries as policy was debated on oceans sustainability, responsible fishing capacity, and other world fishery issues that affect domestic Canadian policy. The National Fisheries Institute in Washington provides secretariat services and FCC is part of an influential world network at minor costs.

International Association of Fish Inspectors- FCC’s President continues to be the Treasurer of this association and serves on the Executive Council. The relationships developed with key inspection officials in the EU and the USA have proved very beneficial in addressing specific inspection/food safety issues

Ad Hoc- FCC takes part in numerous lobby activities that involves a close working relationship with other associations. Over the past year, FCC continued its cooperation with the National Fisheries Institute in Washington with a particular focus on border issues and FDA regulations. FCC is well recognized in the association fora as the voice of the Canadian fish and seafood industry in Ottawa.

 

GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIPS

The Fisheries Council of Canada serves on the following government committees:

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

  • Seafood Value Chain Roundtable(SVCRT) - This committee has been formed to help address the Canadian fish and seafood competitiveness issues and international marketing challenges.
  • Subcommittee on Food Safety - This committee was formed as an industry committee to work with the Government regarding its food safety initiative.

Environment Canada

  • Minister: Species at Risk Advisory Committee. The purpose of this committee is to advise the Minister and the Department on the implementation of the endangered species legislation and identify recommended changes to the legislation when it is reviewed.

Fisheries & Oceans

  • NAFO Government – Industry Advisory Group. The purpose of this committee is to develop the appropriate objectives and strategies for Canada at the annual meeting of NAFO.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

  • National Aquatic Animal Health Program Advisory Committee – The committee is guiding CFIA & DFO in its development of a national program to address the reporting requirements concerning aquatic disease to the OIE (World Organization for Animal Health).

 

STAFF

Current Staff is:

Patrick McGuinness, President

Anna Maria Ritorto, Finance and Administration

On behalf of Ms. Ritorto and myself, it has been a pleasure serving the members and associate members of the Fisheries Council of Canada. A special thank you is extended to the Chairman, Ed Safarik, and the members of the Board of Directors as well as the various FCC subcommittee members, for their guidance and support throughout the year.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Patrick McGuinness
President

Fisheries Council of Canada
900-170 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, ON K1P 5V5
Tel: 613-727-7450
Fax: 613-727-7453
Email: pmcguinness@fisheriescouncil.org