The federal government is disputing the provincial fisheries minister’s contention that Ottawa gave away a thousand metric tonnes of yellowtail flounder off Newfoundland for nothing in return.

Gerry Byrne said they told Ottawa not to do it as this province is developing the yellowtail industry and depends on the thousand tonnes. The current allocation is about 16,500 tonnes.

DFO says the transfer to the United States will help protect Canada’s own allocations of straddling stocks and will reinforce the important relationship with the United States on fisheries management cooperation.

It says allocation transfer among NAFO nations is a common practice and promotes Canadian interests on the whole by minimizing bycatch.