
Gerry Byrne says 80 percent of all wild Atlantic Salmon originating from North American river systems are indigenous to Newfoundland and Labrador however, the feds only offer 25 percent of the resources to this province.
Fisheries Minister Gerry Byrne is inviting the Atlantic Salmon Federation to sign a joint declaration for salmon conservation and to work together to call on the Federal Government to increase aquaculture resources. He says 80 percent of all wild Atlantic Salmon originating from North American river systems are indigenous to Newfoundland and Labrador however, the feds only offer 25 percent of the resources to this province. Byrne says this declaration is to generate allies to reverse the unfair distribution of federal resources and put them where they belong.
Meanwhile, Byrne is looking forward to collaborating with his new federal counterpart. On Friday, St. John’s East MP Joanne Thompson was appointed as Federal Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard. Byrne says with Minister Joanne Thompson being from here, he appreciates the important provincial perspective she will bring to the federal cabinet. He says with tremendous uncertainty in the marketplace and economy, we will face difficult realities and must ensure supports are available if they are needed.