quote:Originally posted by Cuba Libre
And would you care to tell us what you see wrong with Bills letter?
In every instance, after the agreement was reached, the commercial sector breached or ignored that agreement. Now your government has spent over a year, reviewing the latest proposal that we jointly put forward and the commercial sector has again breached, and after a year, you reject it out of hand.
The commercial group sat at the table and worked with the sports group, FN, and province. To the best of my knowledge it was the commercials who made the suggestion that it would be a good idea to spread the 1.8mill over 3 years so that an alternate form of funding could be developed. It was only a suggestion and DFO decided to use it.
The amount of Halibut needed to maintain a viable and vibrant recreational fishery amounts too far less than the commercial sector will leave in the water in 2009.
With a 15% reduction in the Canadian TAC do you really see this happening. It is speculation at best. The rec sector needs close to 600,000lbs to stay within last year’s numbers. That is if last year’s numbers are accurate.
The processing industry advised the Commission that they currently have in storage some 10 million pounds of Halibut from last year’s harvest
The minutes from IPHC show that the number used was 5million lbs.
Of the 435 holders of commercial Halibut quota in 2008, only 168 actually fished for Halibut. The majority Halibut quota holders, 267 take this resource that was gifted to them by the government and sit on the beach while they collect rent for a Canadian resource from the few who are actually willing to go to sea and fish. All fish allocated to and caught by recreational fishers are taken by the anglers themselves not by third parties..
The reason that only 168 vessels fish is that many small boats have sold their quotas and now have an empty “L” tab. This is because fisherman that wanted to stay in the business of halibut fishing decided to purchase more quotas to make a viable business plan.
I would consider a paying guest as a third party.
Yours in conservation.
Show me where the sports group has ever practiced conservation. When have they ever agreed to take less fish, reduce their limits with the increased pressure, or even agree to have better accountability.
I have the out most respect for Mr. Otway. He has been an incredible asset to the sports community. I don’t see the point of sending letters that embellish the facts to the point of being ridiculous.