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Angry anglers protest over halibut
Tamara CunninghamComox Valley Echo
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Enraged saltwater anglers are threatening to give North Island MP John Duncan the hook.
Over 20 sport fishermen lined up outside the Courtenay constituency office Monday morning, waving signs in protest of Ottawa's decision to maintain the allocation formula for B.C. halibut. The group also picketed their elected representative, angry over his lackluster support for local fishermen.
If he doesn't start supporting constituents' concerns over halibut, North Islanders say they'll move to quash his re-election.
Protestors charge Duncan hasn't taken constituents' concerns to the federal level or turned out to public meetings, where fishermen have raised concerns over halibut catch limits.
North Islanders feel let down, said Bryan Allen, sports fishing director for the Courtenay Fish and Game Club.
"This (recent) decision could hurt a lot of businesses on the Island, from motels and tackle shops to marinas and campgrounds ... and yet John Duncan continues to dodge and weave and ignore our concerns," Allen said. "If he thinks there is no price to pay politically for supporting a handful of commercial guys over tens of thousands of B.C. anglers, he's wrong."
Other picketers standing outside Duncan's office were no less forgiving. Jeremy Maynard, a Campbell River fisherman, said the recent decision supported by Duncan, is a declaration of war on the recreational fishery and a betrayal of constituents. North Island fishermen wanted only a letter or phone call to the federal fisheries minister highlighting their concerns and Duncan failed to do that, he said.
Protestor Laurel Gareau questioned why Duncan has shied away from the debate when he once preached to North Islanders that as a fisherman he understood the importance of the industry.
"I'd like to see him grow a spine and do what his constituents elected him to do - represent us at the federal level," he said.
Federal fisheries minister Gail Shea started a firestorm last Tuesday when she announced the commercial fishery would maintain 88 per cent of the catch and the recreational 12 per cent under a formula in place since 2003. Individual anglers, however, can raise their limit by leasing quota from the commercial fishery.
The fishing sport sector is calling the move a complete and utter slap in the face and an abandonment of 300,000 B.C. sport anglers.
The decision will not only privatize a public resource but could damage a $650 million tidal sport industry, members say.
Anglers have never liked the halibut allocation, but the growing sector is now reaching its limit sooner, causing unpredictable season closings. Lodges and charters are having troubles booking advance trips and tackle shops don't know how many orders to make. Maintaining the formula could cause economic havoc, recreational fishermen argued last December.
The commercial sector has been battling back concerned their livelihood is at stake and was relieved last week when Shea announced the allocation would remain the same.
Shea has appointed Randy Kamp, her parliamentary secretary, to work with fisheries staff to find a long-term solution to the quandary in 2012. Recreational fishermen have little confidence anything will change, especially without the support of elected representatives.
Town hall meetings and protests are erupting across the province this week to rally support for a new split of at least 25 per cent. Conservative MPs who haven't already voiced their ridings concerns are being asked to reconsider, including Duncan.
Duncan, however, doesn't want to advocate or interfere in the management of fish. No amount of meetings or letters will sway him, he said.
"Every time in Canada's history where we have had politics take predominance over good management it's lead to measures that have not been good for conservation of our resource ... we need to think of the fish first," he said.
The long-time politician was reeling over message board comments that North Islanders were considering a movement to quash his re-election. The statements are unfair and lack understanding of his role in government, he said.
As the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development he can't get involved in other ministers' mandates.
The commercial and recreational sectors need to come to their own compromise about halibut allocation and the failure to come to an agreement so far is no fault of the government, he said.
"If both parties can get past their differences and come to a compromise that is the best way to go forward."
Tcunningham@comoxvalleyecho.com
Tamara CunninghamComox Valley Echo
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Enraged saltwater anglers are threatening to give North Island MP John Duncan the hook.
Over 20 sport fishermen lined up outside the Courtenay constituency office Monday morning, waving signs in protest of Ottawa's decision to maintain the allocation formula for B.C. halibut. The group also picketed their elected representative, angry over his lackluster support for local fishermen.
If he doesn't start supporting constituents' concerns over halibut, North Islanders say they'll move to quash his re-election.
Protestors charge Duncan hasn't taken constituents' concerns to the federal level or turned out to public meetings, where fishermen have raised concerns over halibut catch limits.
North Islanders feel let down, said Bryan Allen, sports fishing director for the Courtenay Fish and Game Club.
"This (recent) decision could hurt a lot of businesses on the Island, from motels and tackle shops to marinas and campgrounds ... and yet John Duncan continues to dodge and weave and ignore our concerns," Allen said. "If he thinks there is no price to pay politically for supporting a handful of commercial guys over tens of thousands of B.C. anglers, he's wrong."
Other picketers standing outside Duncan's office were no less forgiving. Jeremy Maynard, a Campbell River fisherman, said the recent decision supported by Duncan, is a declaration of war on the recreational fishery and a betrayal of constituents. North Island fishermen wanted only a letter or phone call to the federal fisheries minister highlighting their concerns and Duncan failed to do that, he said.
Protestor Laurel Gareau questioned why Duncan has shied away from the debate when he once preached to North Islanders that as a fisherman he understood the importance of the industry.
"I'd like to see him grow a spine and do what his constituents elected him to do - represent us at the federal level," he said.
Federal fisheries minister Gail Shea started a firestorm last Tuesday when she announced the commercial fishery would maintain 88 per cent of the catch and the recreational 12 per cent under a formula in place since 2003. Individual anglers, however, can raise their limit by leasing quota from the commercial fishery.
The fishing sport sector is calling the move a complete and utter slap in the face and an abandonment of 300,000 B.C. sport anglers.
The decision will not only privatize a public resource but could damage a $650 million tidal sport industry, members say.
Anglers have never liked the halibut allocation, but the growing sector is now reaching its limit sooner, causing unpredictable season closings. Lodges and charters are having troubles booking advance trips and tackle shops don't know how many orders to make. Maintaining the formula could cause economic havoc, recreational fishermen argued last December.
The commercial sector has been battling back concerned their livelihood is at stake and was relieved last week when Shea announced the allocation would remain the same.
Shea has appointed Randy Kamp, her parliamentary secretary, to work with fisheries staff to find a long-term solution to the quandary in 2012. Recreational fishermen have little confidence anything will change, especially without the support of elected representatives.
Town hall meetings and protests are erupting across the province this week to rally support for a new split of at least 25 per cent. Conservative MPs who haven't already voiced their ridings concerns are being asked to reconsider, including Duncan.
Duncan, however, doesn't want to advocate or interfere in the management of fish. No amount of meetings or letters will sway him, he said.
"Every time in Canada's history where we have had politics take predominance over good management it's lead to measures that have not been good for conservation of our resource ... we need to think of the fish first," he said.
The long-time politician was reeling over message board comments that North Islanders were considering a movement to quash his re-election. The statements are unfair and lack understanding of his role in government, he said.
As the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development he can't get involved in other ministers' mandates.
The commercial and recreational sectors need to come to their own compromise about halibut allocation and the failure to come to an agreement so far is no fault of the government, he said.
"If both parties can get past their differences and come to a compromise that is the best way to go forward."
Tcunningham@comoxvalleyecho.com
© Comox Valley Echo 2011
