Stakeholders are urged to take an active role in harvesting decisions, as they are in other parts of Atlantic Canada. Domestic cooperation and local action are essential to preserve and enhance the resource. But so are international cooperation and global action. Together we must show leadership -in both resource development and conservation of the oceans environment that we all share. None of us can do it alone.
Prosperity depends on the outcome of our collective efforts.
I'm pleased that this year all countries will be putting down on paper their unreported catch levels. This is a big step towards understanding what is happening in the water. We're already looking at ways to reduce those levels. I believe that partnerships with the provinces' native bands and riverwatch programs with the general public are essential to meet this goal. Their awareness of what is happening, their commitment to conservation, are essential to help us fulfill our mutual responsibility to eradicate illegal fishing.