Sushihunter
Active Member
A friend of mine forwarded me this email from James Nightingale regarding the Commercial viewpoint on the 88/12 Halibut split:
From: J Nightingale [mailto:jnightingale@dccnet.com]
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2010 11:44 AM
To: 'mhume@globeandmail.com'
Subject: Editor.doc halibut closure.doc
One commercial fisherman's view of the recreational halibut closure
Editor, Globe and Mail
Dear Sir,
You reported Monday that BC fishing lodge operators are unhappy with potential halibut closures. I think there is a choice that has been made in the past and will continue to be made if the “sports “ catch is allowed to continue to increase. That choice is whether Canada’s halibut ends up desiccating at the bottom of the freezers of wealthy sports fishing enthusiasts, most of the sports catch is taken by the lodges and commercial sports operators, or makes it to the display cases of Canada’s fish shops and ultimately to the plates of Canadians.
The sports catch of halibut in Alaska now exceeds Canada ’s yearly take of halibut. This year in Area 2C, the Alaskan halibut regulatory area immediately adjacent to BC waters, the sports catch of halibut is on track to exceed the commercial catch there for the first time ever. In the thirty years I have fished in the Haida Gwai area where most of the BC lodges are located, the sports catch of BC halibut has gone from virtually nothing to in excess of 12 % of Canada ’s total allowable catch of pacific halibut.
The same thing is happening with other species. I fish for chinook or spring salmon in this area. The sports catch for these salmon, the mainstay of the commercial troll fleet, has risen to about one half of the total allowable catch for the area. This re-allocation has happened without any form of compensation and has denied the Canadian consumer access to these fish. As well, this reallocation has helped to put many commercial fishermen out of business. The same process could occur with BC halibut.. Interestingly, in contrast to the situation with halibut, salmon and other marine species in BC, there is no sports catch of lobster in Atlantic Canada.
The commercial halibut industry in BC is one of the world’s best regulated and most sustainable. BC Halibut can be eaten without guilt by those of us who love seafood. Let us hope Canadians can continue to have that opportunity.
James Nightingale
4420 Maple Lane
Delta, B.C.
604 946 0947
From: J Nightingale [mailto:jnightingale@dccnet.com]
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2010 11:44 AM
To: 'mhume@globeandmail.com'
Subject: Editor.doc halibut closure.doc
One commercial fisherman's view of the recreational halibut closure
Editor, Globe and Mail
Dear Sir,
You reported Monday that BC fishing lodge operators are unhappy with potential halibut closures. I think there is a choice that has been made in the past and will continue to be made if the “sports “ catch is allowed to continue to increase. That choice is whether Canada’s halibut ends up desiccating at the bottom of the freezers of wealthy sports fishing enthusiasts, most of the sports catch is taken by the lodges and commercial sports operators, or makes it to the display cases of Canada’s fish shops and ultimately to the plates of Canadians.
The sports catch of halibut in Alaska now exceeds Canada ’s yearly take of halibut. This year in Area 2C, the Alaskan halibut regulatory area immediately adjacent to BC waters, the sports catch of halibut is on track to exceed the commercial catch there for the first time ever. In the thirty years I have fished in the Haida Gwai area where most of the BC lodges are located, the sports catch of BC halibut has gone from virtually nothing to in excess of 12 % of Canada ’s total allowable catch of pacific halibut.
The same thing is happening with other species. I fish for chinook or spring salmon in this area. The sports catch for these salmon, the mainstay of the commercial troll fleet, has risen to about one half of the total allowable catch for the area. This re-allocation has happened without any form of compensation and has denied the Canadian consumer access to these fish. As well, this reallocation has helped to put many commercial fishermen out of business. The same process could occur with BC halibut.. Interestingly, in contrast to the situation with halibut, salmon and other marine species in BC, there is no sports catch of lobster in Atlantic Canada.
The commercial halibut industry in BC is one of the world’s best regulated and most sustainable. BC Halibut can be eaten without guilt by those of us who love seafood. Let us hope Canadians can continue to have that opportunity.
James Nightingale
4420 Maple Lane
Delta, B.C.
604 946 0947
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