Adjacency (III)

Adajcency is an important principle:

Fisheries and Aquaculture
May 19, 2010

Federal Government Ignores Principle of Adjacency in Application of Northern Shrimp Quota

Today, the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, responded to the announcement made this week by the Honourable Gail Shea, federal Minister of Fisheries and Ocean, in relation to the northern shrimp quota for shrimp fishing area six. The Federal Government decision to ignore the principle of adjacency in determining allocations for this area will be detrimental to Newfoundland and Labrador said the minister.

“Against the advice of our government, the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has decided to apply a last-in first-out approach to quota allocation reductions,” said Minister Jackman. “This approach provides a greater level of protection for the offshore sector rather than the inshore fleet. The impact of this approach is that one group in the province is losing access and the province’s inshore harvesters will see their allocation reduced by 18,000 tonnes. There are principles of quota distribution that are far more important to maintain than the last-in first-out approach. The principle of adjacency must be paramount.”

Newfoundland and Labrador is the only province adjacent to this shrimp fishing area.

...

Both the Provincial Government and the province’s fishing industry supported this quota reduction based on scientific advice and the requirement of the Marine Stewardship Certification. However, the province also took the position that those adjacent to the resources should have priority access. This has consistently been the provincial position across all fisheries.

“I advised the Federal Government that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador did not support removal of any adjacent quota holders from this fishery,” said Minister Jackman. “We asked that Minister Shea consider the economic importance of this resource to the people adjacent to it. The impact of this decision will cause hardship for harvesters and seafood processors in this province, particularly on the Northern Peninsula.

“The Federal Government is aware that our province has been experiencing a very difficult year in the fishing industry,” added Minister Jackman. “While we understand that there are challenges in other areas, decisions which reduce our access to adjacent resources raise serious issues and concerns for the Newfoundland and Labrador fishery. Our government will continue to recommend adjacency to the resource as a primary consideration in the setting of quotas.”

Except when it isn't:

Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
June 26, 2009

[...]

In response to various requests to create a community-focused economic development trust fund for the Exploits Region, Minister Skinner said today that the Provincial Government will not introduce a regional-specific fund.

"Some people in the region have been calling for the creation of a community trust fund, but government will not and cannot approach economic development in the province in this fashion," said Minister Skinner. "While we continue to work with the Community Development Committee – a dedicated 15-person team consisting of local community, business, and union leaders – to revitalize the central region, we are equally committed to the economic and social development of all areas and regions of the province. Our policies must balance regional requirements."

"We have committed to using the repatriated assets to attract industrial development in the area as part of our approach to strengthen and diversify the region’s economy," said Minister Skinner. "We are providing financial benefits to displaced workers and certain entitlements under the Work Force Reduction Program and Supplementary Retirement Allowance. Available power from the repatriated resources puts us in a stronger position to attract industrial opportunities for the region. However, as with any investment, the collective impact on the province as a whole must be measured as these resources are provincially owned."