The federal fisheries minister says suggestions that the French government is hoping to launch a snow crab fishery on Canada’s continental shelf is “not an active story.”
The French Ambassador has since indicated that France would not take that type of action without consulting Canada.
Minister Joanne Thompson told VOCM Open Line with Brian Callahan that the news, which dropped shortly after the French President met with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Saint Pierre et Miquelon, came as a complete shock prompting Global Affairs to get involved.
Since that time the French Ambassador has offered assurance that the suggestion is not part of ongoing discussions between France and Canada.
As far as Minister Thompson is concerned, it’s not a current issue.
“From my perspective, this is not an active story,” says Thompson. “We will continue to work together…but I just want to reassure harvesters I will always defend our right to fish in our waters.”
