Under the Groundfish Integrated Fishery Management Plan (“Plan”), a directed fishery for Cusk is prohibited and Cusk can only be landed as bycatch within established caps set out in the Plan for each fleet and area in the groundfish fishery.

As such, unilateral extension of jurisdiction would result in disruptions of Canada's relations — both fisheries and otherwise — with many other countries, particularly maritime powers and distant water fishing nations.

If you are forced to take unilateral action, will it be based on the same percentage per fishing licence, irrespective of the province, or will you respect the Department of Fisheries and Oceans' plan, which is to go with 50% of Quebec fishermen's share and 50% of New Brunswick fishermen's share, knowing full well that there are twice as many fishermen in New Brunswick and that, therefore, the impact will be felt twice as strongly on fishermen from Quebec?

In March 2003, a Newfoundland and Labrador All-Party Committee on northern and Gulf cod also urged that a Canadian-based fisheries management regime be implemented to protect the straddling stocks ([65]) In July 2003, the Newfoundland and Labrador Royal Commission on Renewing and Strengthening Our Place in Canada concluded that, while unilateral action by Canada to assume responsibility for areas outside the 200-mile limit posed serious legal, diplomatic and enforcement risks, rejecting custodial management as an immediate option was not good enough, and that one last effort should be made to strengthen NAFO ([66])

eight months, in the context of the fishing effort adjustment plans referred to in Article 21(a)(iv), and of management plans adopted at national level within the framework of Community conservation measures, and where such plans provide for gradual reductions of fishing effort.

Group No. 1 Mr. Bernier (Bonaventure Gaspé Îles-de-la-Madeleine Pabok), seconded by Mr. Godin (Châteauguay), moved Motion No. 1, That Bill C-27 be amended by adding after line 10 on page 3 the following new clause: ``1.1 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 2: 2.1 The objectives of this Act include the implementation of the Agreement, in accordance with which, in order to conserve and manage straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks, coastal States and States fishing on the high seas shall, in giving effect to their duty to cooperate in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982: (a) adopt measures to ensure long-term sustainability of straddling fish stocks and ...[+++]highly migratory fish stocks and promote the objective of their optimum utilization; (b) ensure that such measures are based on the best scientific evidence available and are designed to maintain or restore stocks at levels capable of producing maximum sustainable yield, as qualified by relevant environmental and economic factors, including the special requirements of developing States, and taking into account fishing patterns, the interdependence of stocks and any generally recommended international minimum standards, whether subregional, regional or global; (c) apply the precautionary approach in accordance with article 6 of the Agreement; (d) assess the impacts of fishing, other human activities and environmental factors on target stocks and species belonging to the same ecosystem or dependent upon or associated with the target stocks; (e) adopt, where necessary, conservation and management measures for species belonging to the same ecosystem or dependent on or associated with the target stocks, with a view to maintaining or restoring populations of such species above levels at which their reproduction may become seriously threatened; (f) minimize pollution, waste, discards, catch by lost or abandoned gear, catch of non-ta ...