OTTAWA - Canada is closing its ports to fishing boats from the Faroe Islands and Greenland because of their refusal to accept internationally set shrimp quotas, Federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea announced Sunday.
The ban will take effect Monday.
"We have acted in good faith for several years to try to resolve this issue, to no avail," said Shea in a statement.
"It has become clear to Canada that attempts to come to a multilateral agreement regarding the 3L shrimp quota for Denmark (in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland) are at an impasse."
The Danish territories have unilaterally set a quota of 3,101 tonnes, almost 10 times greater than their NAFO quota in international waters about 400 kilometres east of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Shea said she remained open to talks and was prepared to meet with her ministerial counterparts at their earliest convenience.
She said Canada will continue to do whatever is necessary, within the law, to protect Canadian fishermen and the sustainability of the industry.
The minister said Canada expects all NAFO members to abide by existing international agreements, particularly conservation measures such as the quotas agreed to last September in Bergen, Norway.
"Failure to do so undermines the very foundations of international fisheries management and the integrity of NAFO," she said.
The Danish territories have registered their formal objections with NAFO over the 334-tonne limit.
They had also asked Canada not to close its ports to their boats.
