France has not issued a new licence to harvest snow crab off the coast of Newfoundland, despite a reported pledge by French President Emmanuel Macron last month, according to Canada’s fisheries minister.
Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson said Saturday that the Canadian government has contacted French officials to confirm that no licence has been issued. She added that any licensing matters would have to be addressed through the established formal processes between the two countries.
The issue follows reports that Macron had pledged to grant an exploratory licence allowing a company in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon to harvest up to 1,500 tonnes of snow crab in waters near Newfoundland.
Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is a small French archipelago located off the southeastern coast of Newfoundland. The proposed fishing area is one that Canada claims under its continental shelf rights through the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.
Thompson said Ottawa does not support foreign snow crab fishing in the area and emphasized that no discussions on such a licence have taken place through the appropriate Canada-France channels.
The reported French pledge came as a surprise to Canadian officials, particularly because it was announced shortly after Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Macron in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. The two leaders had discussed strengthening Canada-France relations and expanding economic cooperation.
The dispute highlights the sensitivity surrounding fishing rights in the waters off Newfoundland and Labrador, where the snow crab industry supports fishing communities and contributes significantly to the regional economy.
For Canadian officials, the absence of a licence means the situation has not yet resulted in a new foreign fishing authorization. However, Ottawa’s response indicates that it intends to closely monitor any future French actions involving fishing activities in the disputed area.
The issue also adds another layer to Canada’s broader relationship with France, which has generally strengthened in recent years as Ottawa seeks to deepen economic and diplomatic ties with European partners.
For now, Canadian authorities say no French snow crab licence has been issued, while any future proposal would be expected to go through established diplomatic and regulatory processes.
Swifteradio.com
