Reading this thread, I see some pretty true and alarming statements.
This is reallocation to commercial fishing (FN and /or traditional commercial sector makes no difference) and nothing more. I think it is important that we remember prawn management is not done based on quota alone or at all I believe?
It is measured by spawner index of commercial catch and contracted off season test sets. As long as the minimum number of egg barring prawns are observed in traps being hauled then harvest continues in that area. Once that is a no longer the case, that area closes and a very mobile fleet simply runs to the next area to fish it to the minimum.
If we look back to the original notice of impending reductions from a year ago, we see in the wording that the commercial prawn harvest is one of the most lucrative. They have had a more difficult time achieving the numbers of past catches. ( not a direct quote, but it was in there in some form ). No **** it is harder. The fleet increased in size by something like roughly 300% in a relatively short amount of time. Also they have become very mobile. Many are able to continue fishing long after they have dried up their traditional areas by simply moving to the next.
To me what is alarming is that despite strong efforts by sfab to get DFO to look at the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the current model for indexing the biomass , along with other suggestions, DFO has taken the easy way out yet again. 200 or 125 , may not seem that significant on its own.
To put it in perspective as I see it. Regardless of the rec sector getting 200,125 or none at all, the commercial sectors will fish the biomass to the minimum so long as it is marketable. It just means more for some and less for others, doing nothing to contribute to conservation of the resource.
It is by my way of looking, the cumulative affect of all these never ending cuts in the name of reallocation being passed off as conservation measures ( clearly in the denial or ignorance to contradicting science ) that will be most costly to everyone, fish included.
This may be my last year as well. For all of it. It is getting harder each year to enjoy when at every turn we are being judged and persecuted for doing what we love.
The writing has been on the wall for years. We are just seeing it speed up exponentially now. Unless there is a monumental change in how government treats the resource and those who depend on it, we all will be off the water regardless of sector. We just happen to be easiest so therefore first.
Those trying to see it be otherwise will always have my admiration and respect for the work you do.