Canada’s ratification of the United Nations Fish Agreement (UNFA) took effect in January. Immediately, opposition critics of the federal government raised questions about Ottawa’s ability to enforce it.

During a January visit to Newfoundland, federal Fisheries and Oceans Minister Geoff Regan went on a surveillance flight with Newfoundland/Labrador Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Trevor Taylor out to the 200-mile limit.

“I believe that we must improve NAFO [the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization] and increase Canada’s enforcement capacity in NAFO,” Regan said later. “Certainly the recent ratification of the United Nations Fish Agreement by the European Union gives us an important new tool to achieve that goal.”

Regan added, “This would include an increased at-sea patrol presence in the NAFO Regulatory Area. I will announce details of the strategy in the near future.” However, Regan said he was not ready to discuss the specifics of UNFA enforcement.

“The European Union’s ratification of UNFA opens up some possibilities for increased measures outside the 200-mile limit,” said Taylor. “We believe that the federal government should make strategic use of this legislation.”

Fisheries and Oceans spokesman Steve Outhouse said any concerns about Canada’s enforcement capabilities are misplaced, “The fact is that UNFA is now in effect, and Canada has the ability to use all measures of enforcement contained in the agreement. Canada will examine every situation individually before determining what type of response is appropriate. But the fact remains, these tools are available.”

“It’s a useful stepping stone,” said Earle McCurdy, president of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union. The UN fish agreement “has some useful elements in it, but it leaves the management and regulation of the stocks to NAFO (Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization). UNFA is more of a framework; it’s definitely not a replacement for NAFO.”

McCurdy has been highly critical of NAFO’S enforcement practices and the failure of its member countries to follow organizational regulations.

UNFA was adopted in August 1995 by a UN Conference. It was signed by Canada on December 4, 1995, and ratified on August 3, 1999.