fishingbc
Active Member
Published: January 25, 2011 1:00 PM
The house was packed to capacity last week during a saltwater anglers meeting to discuss the halibut fishery.
A crowd of 350 people filled the Beban Park Auditorium Tuesday for the B.C. Coalition of Salt Water Anglers meeting.
A mix of recreational and commercial fishermen attended, although the majority were recreational anglers, said Clyde Wicks, chairman of the Sport Advisory Committee Nanaimo branch and meeting chairman.
Four similar meetings were held on the Island last week, sparked by concerns the leasing quota system is flawed and this year’s recreational halibut fishery might close early, although the Department of Fisheries and Oceans hasn’t announced the season yet.
Some quota holders sublease to other commercial fisherman and anglers want those licenses to return to the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans to be leased by active fishermen.
Currently, Canada’s total allowable catch is split 88/12 between commercial and recreational. Anglers want the split to change to 80/20.
“We need this resolved this year. Our message to recreational anglers was you have to get involved,” said Wicks. “Let your MLA rep, the prime minister and [Minster of Fisheries and Oceans] Gail Shea know an 88/12 allocation isn’t fair.”
James Lunney, Conservative MP for Nanaimo-Alberni, attended the meeting and said if something isn’t changed, the recreational fishery is going to have a disastrous season.
“The resource is large enough to accommodate everybody,” said Lunney.
The sport fishery contributes $550 million to the economy, while the commercial industry contributes $230 million, according to 2007 statistics, he added.
“It’s fundamentally not sound to strangle the highest-valued sector,” said Lunney.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans said halibut stocks are in decline, so recreational fisherman are reaching their quota earlier in the season.
The total allowable catch has declined from 13.2 million pounds in 2006 to 7.5 million pounds in 2010.
reporter3@nanaimobulletin.com
The house was packed to capacity last week during a saltwater anglers meeting to discuss the halibut fishery.
A crowd of 350 people filled the Beban Park Auditorium Tuesday for the B.C. Coalition of Salt Water Anglers meeting.
A mix of recreational and commercial fishermen attended, although the majority were recreational anglers, said Clyde Wicks, chairman of the Sport Advisory Committee Nanaimo branch and meeting chairman.
Four similar meetings were held on the Island last week, sparked by concerns the leasing quota system is flawed and this year’s recreational halibut fishery might close early, although the Department of Fisheries and Oceans hasn’t announced the season yet.
Some quota holders sublease to other commercial fisherman and anglers want those licenses to return to the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans to be leased by active fishermen.
Currently, Canada’s total allowable catch is split 88/12 between commercial and recreational. Anglers want the split to change to 80/20.
“We need this resolved this year. Our message to recreational anglers was you have to get involved,” said Wicks. “Let your MLA rep, the prime minister and [Minster of Fisheries and Oceans] Gail Shea know an 88/12 allocation isn’t fair.”
James Lunney, Conservative MP for Nanaimo-Alberni, attended the meeting and said if something isn’t changed, the recreational fishery is going to have a disastrous season.
“The resource is large enough to accommodate everybody,” said Lunney.
The sport fishery contributes $550 million to the economy, while the commercial industry contributes $230 million, according to 2007 statistics, he added.
“It’s fundamentally not sound to strangle the highest-valued sector,” said Lunney.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans said halibut stocks are in decline, so recreational fisherman are reaching their quota earlier in the season.
The total allowable catch has declined from 13.2 million pounds in 2006 to 7.5 million pounds in 2010.
reporter3@nanaimobulletin.com
