Groundfish allocation pilot program

[OldBlackDog]

s): General Information
COMMERCIAL - Groundfish Trawl
COMMERCIAL - Groundfish: Halibut
COMMERCIAL - Groundfish: Rockfish Hook and Line
COMMERCIAL - Groundfish: Sablefish
COMMERCIAL - Groundfish: Other Hook and Line
Subject: FN0273-Commercial Groundfish Integration Three Year Pilot Plan



A three year pilot is being introduced in the commercial groundfish fisheries,
following significant work through the Commercial Groundfish Industry Advisory
Committee (CGIAC), the Commercial Industry Caucus (CIC), and support from the
Province of B.C. It will go into effect for the 2006 fishing season.

The proposed pilot plan was developed over the past 2 ½ years by the CIC in
response to management and sustainability issues in the commercial groundfish
fisheries and follows principles laid out by the Department in 2003.

The new pilot plan will strengthen conservation in commercial groundfish
fisheries in British Columbia through a wide range of measures, including
improving bycatch monitoring, reducing discarding, and making fishers
accountable for their bycatch.

The key components of the commercial groundfish pilot plan are:

- Individual Quotas (IQs) for commercial groundfish fisheries not currently
under a quota regime. This requires implementation of IQs in outside rockfish,
lingcod, and dogfish fisheries.

- Transferable quota between all commercial groundfish fisheries.

- Individual vessel accountability.

These measures will be supported by new monitoring standards that include 100
per cent at-sea electronic and video monitoring for all commercial groundfish
trap/hook and line vessels. This is in addition to the 100 per cent observer
coverage in the groundfish trawl fishery and 100 per cent dockside monitoring
for all commercial groundfish vessels.

This commercial pilot is not designed to address inter-sectoral allocation
issues. First Nations food, social and ceremonial (FSC) fisheries for
groundfish will continue to have priority over all other fisheries for
groundfish. In consultations on proposals to integrate and improve
conservation in commercial groundfish fisheries, some Aboriginal organizations
and First Nations have raised concerns regarding increases to the cost of
access to commercial groundfish fisheries. To address these concerns, some
lingcod and dogfish quota (associated with commercial licence eligibilities
retired by DFO in the past) will be made available to First Nations who
participate in commercial groundfish fisheries. DFO is also exploring other
means by which rockfish quota could be available to First Nations that
participate in commercial groundfish fisheries to address rockfish bycatch
issues. DFO will explore issues arising from the implementation of the pilot
plan in further consultations with First Nations.

Recreational fishing opportunities for groundfish will not be impacted by this
pilot plan.

DFO will continue to consult with the Province of B.C., groundfish harvesters,
and those with an interest in the resource to deliver sound conservation and
management of the fisheries resources.

Implementation of the pilot plan will be monitored in-season so that any
concerns or issues arising on the part of licence holders, stakeholders and
First Nations can be addressed. This will provide some flexibility, when
warranted, in the implementation of the plan.

Commercial fishing plans are being finalized and will be released shortly. A
further notice with commercial fishery opening dates will be sent out early
next week.

For further information, contact Diana Trager (604) 666-9033, Tamee Mawani
(604) 666-0912, Lisa Mijacika (604) 666-3279 or Barry Ackerman (604) 666-3991.



FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Diana Trager
Regional Resource Manager - Groundfish
Phone: 604-666-9033
Fax: 604-666-8525


Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0273
Sent April 10, 2006 at 0958

 

[drhook]

Thanks for keeping us informed Oldblackdog. I hope you will continue to keep us aware of these things as they come up.

 

[SSfisher]

Well the commercial groundfish fisheries have all opened now. I dont see it affecting the sport fishery at all. But they have designated a few areas as recreational only areas, where there will be no commercial fishing for groundfish. Also, the new RCA's are coming into affect soon. Fisheries say's early summer 2006. So watch out you dont get caught in a closed area when they suddenly anounce it.