Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to congratulate Mr. Fred Woodman on his recent appointment as chair of the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council.
Mr. Woodman has been involved in the fisheries for over 40 years. He has held numerous important positions such as chairman of the Fisheries Council of Canada; chairman of the Fisheries Association of Newfoundland and Labrador; and chairman of Newfound Resources Ltd. He has been an active member of the FRCC since May 1993.
The FRCC will give immediate priority to the development of a groundfish conservation strategy and the development of a criteria for the reopening of the fisheries on a sustainable basis. Mr. Woodman's leadership skills and solid background in fisheries and conservation will be a guiding force for the council in his upcoming term.