Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Assoc.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

October 19, 2011

COMPLETION OF THE 2011
PEI BLUEFIN TUNA CONSERVATION HARVESTING PLAN

Moncton – The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Gulf Region, today provided the details of the tuna tag re-allocation process that will complete a very successful 2011 bluefin tuna fishery.

Following a review of the initial conservation harvesting plan, (CHP), and further discussions with the major participants on the issues of available resource and the management priorities within the consultation framework, the DFO has decided to move forward with a reallocation of tuna tags based on the following parameters:

• 2 tags of the expected 68 available will be retained by DFO to limit the risk that changes with year-end seasonal average weights can be mitigated within available resource allocations to the PEI Fleet sector.

• 6 tags to the commercial communal license holders to be assigned in the following manner, 1 tag – Native Council of PEI, 2 tags – Abegweit First Nations, 3 tags- Lennox Island First Nation.

• 60 tags to the pre-identified commercial harvesters as identified to DFO by the PEIFA based on a random draw of all commercial license holders administered by the PEIFA on Oct 7th, 2011.
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A variation order has been requested to re-open the PEI tuna fishery at 1500hrs, Oct 19th, 2011 to allow for the continuation of this fishery. Identified license holders can contact the PEI Licensing Service Center for tuna tags as per normal procedures.