VANCOUVER - The Honourable Geoff Regan, federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans; the Honourable John van Dongen, British Columbia Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries; and the Honourable Jim Kenyon, Yukon's Minister of the Environment, today agreed to work co-operatively to resolve issues of common interest at the inaugural meeting of the Pacific Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers.

Today's meeting also welcomed Minister Jim Kenyon to the council as ministers signed an amendment to include the Yukon government in the Pacific Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers, and changed the title of the council to incorporate aquaculture.

The council was established this summer by B.C. and Canada to strengthen co-operation and co-ordination between the federal government and the government of B.C. on the management of Pacific fisheries, oceans, aquaculture and aquatic habitat issues. Both governments now welcome the participation of the government of Yukon.

"Partnering will result in effective management, and will ensure the conservation and sustainable development of our marine and freshwater resources," said Minister Regan. "With the Yukon government joining us at the table, it will allow the three governments to strengthen co-operation and communication to better meet the objectives of the council."

The ministers today discussed a number of responsibilities and issues and have tasked their officials to develop a work plan to address them over the coming months. Ministers will review progress made at the next council meeting. The work plan includes:
* Receiving and reviewing the recommendations of the Joint Task Group (Pearse-McRae) on Post-Treaty Fisheries;
* Completing the MOU for iImplementation of Canada's Oceans Strategy (COS) in B.C.;
* Streamlining aquaculture site application review processes; and,
* Habitat management ­ to achieve a streamlined and balanced approach to regulatory reviews.

"Today's agreement builds on our New Era commitment to achieve greater input and co-ordination on fisheries issues," said Minister van Dongen.  "We aim to fulfill the goals shared between our governments for economically and environmentally sustainable management of the fisheries and aquatic resource sectors.  We are looking at better ways to co-operate and make decisions together while still respecting constitutional responsibilities."

Jim Kenyon, Yukon's Minister of Environment, explained the benefits to the Yukon of joining the Pacific Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers. "Joining this council should give Yukon a much louder voice at the federal table," said Kenyon. He noted that in the past, Yukon would have benefited from having better access to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

Ministers Regan, van Dongen and Kenyon have agreed to work together in order to contribute effectively, with stakeholders, to the maintenance of sustainable fisheries resources and habitats, and to the development of ecologically sustainable and economically viable fisheries and aquaculture industries.

This agreement builds upon the principles of co-operation outlined in the Agreement on Interjurisdictional Co-operation with Respect to Fisheries and Aquaculture, which was signed by all Canadian jurisdictions in 1999.  

Contact:

James Carroll
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613 992-3474  

Graham Currie
Communications Director, Province of B.C.
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries
250 356-2862  

Sophie Galarneau
Manager, Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613 998-1530  

Dennis Senger
Communications
Government of Yukon, Department of Environment
867 667-5237