FN increase YE catch by 270%

fish4all

Well-Known Member
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received this late last night just as the office closed. While rec and commercial have been severely curtailed FN increase their take by 278%.
 
I'm fairly sure the "high value" species they are talking about is crab and prawn. Talk to anyone working in a fish plant these days and they will tell you about the large numbers of YE coming in from these fisheries, whereas the strictly commercial halibut fishers are working hard to avoid areas with YE. With no real accountability to control harvest the only hope for sustainable fisheries is to close access to all commercial and recreational fishing. Good thing (or so it seems) for the MPA process which essentially establishes Exclusive Economic Zones for FSC.
 
establishes Exclusive Economic Zones for FSC.


In the past seven months, DFO has signed agreements with two bands in New Brunswick and one in Quebec.

"It is not an easy process. It is a long process for sure, but we're committed to making sure that we get those agreements in place," she said.

The right to earn a "moderate livelihood" was upheld in a 1999 landmark Supreme Court of Canada ruling, but was never defined.

https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/abor-autoc/reconciliation-pacific-pacifique-eng.html

Reconciliation in British Columbia and the Yukon
We are committed to the recognition and implementation of the rights of Indigenous peoples related to fisheries, oceans, aquatic habitat and marine waterways in a manner consistent with the Principles Respecting the Government of Canada’s Relationship with Indigenous Peoples. It is important that we act in a way that respects the historical stewardship and economic role in resource management that Indigenous communities have within their traditional territories.

To build upon our established relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations, we have created a new Reconciliation and Partnerships (R&P) Branch in Pacific Region to ensure that fisheries and related issues that matter to Indigenous communities and organizations across British Columbia and the Yukon and addressed in a timely and coordinated manner.

The Branch helps guide and coordinate the departmental direction for reconciliation with Indigenous communities and organizations in BC and the Yukon, while also building upon existing regional and national reconciliation efforts. The Branch is responsible for advancing long-term commitments with treaty and self-governing First Nations, working with Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNA) to represent DFO in treaty negotiations and rights and recognition processes, and implementing core Indigenous fisheries programs such as:

  • Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management (AAROM) Program
  • Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy (AFS)
  • Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk (AFSAR)
  • Allocation Transfer Program (ATP)
  • Pacific Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (PICFI)
Achieving reconciliation will require strong relationships between DFO and industry, governmental and non-governmental organizations and other bodies interested in resource management; all of whom play a role at helping to realize reconciliation. Working closely with other federal departments, the Province of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory as well as non-governmental sectors, the Reconciliation and Partnerships Branch also works to support regional initiatives that align with the Government of Canada’s reconciliation goals.
 
In the past seven months, DFO has signed agreements with two bands in New Brunswick and one in Quebec.

"It is not an easy process. It is a long process for sure, but we're committed to making sure that we get those agreements in place," she said.

The right to earn a "moderate livelihood" was upheld in a 1999 landmark Supreme Court of Canada ruling, but was never defined.

https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/abor-autoc/reconciliation-pacific-pacifique-eng.html

Reconciliation in British Columbia and the Yukon
We are committed to the recognition and implementation of the rights of Indigenous peoples related to fisheries, oceans, aquatic habitat and marine waterways in a manner consistent with the Principles Respecting the Government of Canada’s Relationship with Indigenous Peoples. It is important that we act in a way that respects the historical stewardship and economic role in resource management that Indigenous communities have within their traditional territories.

To build upon our established relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations, we have created a new Reconciliation and Partnerships (R&P) Branch in Pacific Region to ensure that fisheries and related issues that matter to Indigenous communities and organizations across British Columbia and the Yukon and addressed in a timely and coordinated manner.

The Branch helps guide and coordinate the departmental direction for reconciliation with Indigenous communities and organizations in BC and the Yukon, while also building upon existing regional and national reconciliation efforts. The Branch is responsible for advancing long-term commitments with treaty and self-governing First Nations, working with Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNA) to represent DFO in treaty negotiations and rights and recognition processes, and implementing core Indigenous fisheries programs such as:

  • Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management (AAROM) Program
  • Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy (AFS)
  • Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk (AFSAR)
  • Allocation Transfer Program (ATP)
  • Pacific Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (PICFI)
Achieving reconciliation will require strong relationships between DFO and industry, governmental and non-governmental organizations and other bodies interested in resource management; all of whom play a role at helping to realize reconciliation. Working closely with other federal departments, the Province of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory as well as non-governmental sectors, the Reconciliation and Partnerships Branch also works to support regional initiatives that align with the Government of Canada’s reconciliation goals.

historical stewardship????
 
I think there's some assumptions expressed here that might not be supported.

FN fishermen/boats are not targeting YE any more than anyone else is. The fish commercially as well - and are constrained by area by-catch quotas. They would want to avoid YE whenever possible. This is YE bycatch being used as FSC catch rather than trying to find scarce YE bycatch by area. They are likely not increasing their catch rate - rather converting commercial byctch to FSC. Total catch by year (commercial & FSC combined) should be available somewhere to reference that assumption.

Secondly, if the YE bycatch is in fact increasing - YE could be rebounding - something not yet admitted by DFO. Could be good news. One would want to look at that by subarea - and where the catch is coming from.
 
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I think there's some assumptions expressed here that might not be supported.

FN fishermen/boats are not targeting YE any more than anyone else is. The fish commercially as well - and are constrained by area by-catch quotas. They would want to avoid YE whenever possible. This is YE bycatch being used as FSC catch rather than trying to find scarce YE bycatch by area. They are likely not increasing their catch rate - rather converting commercial byctch to FSC. Total catch by year (commercial & FSC combined) should be available somewhere to reference that assumption.

Secondly, if the YE bycatch is in fact increasing - YE could be rebounding - something not yet admitted by DFO. Could be good news. One would want to look at that by subarea - and where the catch is coming from.

its not that they are targeting YE it’s that they are making no effort to avoid YE. Every other groundfish fleet is restricted by YE unless you have an FN on board with a permit. To make it worse the plant we work for told me yesterday some of the FN boats this season showed up with 5000lbs of YE mixed with halibut. As it’s designated FSC the plants can’t deal with or sell it so it sat on the dock until it was rotten and dumped. this is a total abuse of the dual fishing permits.
 
Some of the issue could be education and leaning gear types and fishing techniques. There is a number of new aboriginal fishers who may not recognize that certain types of areas hold YE more than others...may not know for any species holding zones. Many put out the gear and just hope while they work through they're learning curve.
Not what’s happening on the grounds. These are experienced fishermen abusing a system
 
FSC has priority over commercial correct? so more FSC bycatch means less commercial/recreational bycatch allowed and that may restrict thoes fisheries further. Sad
 
FSC has priority over commercial correct? so more FSC bycatch means less commercial/recreational bycatch allowed and that may restrict thoes fisheries further. Sad
Yes to the 1st - no to the 2nd. FSC is separate from commercial TAC.
 
Yes to the 1st - no to the 2nd. FSC is separate from commercial TAC.

ITs separate but it still comes first and effects how much they get. There has been numerous post on this fishery already included a new court case. ITs the wild west of rape and because its a dual fsc/commercial fishery it's completely unenforceable.

Aces already posted about the processors in tofino and this fishery. More yellow eye on the market then ever before.

Pretty sad but this fishery has because they way to launder your fsc catch.
 
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It's managed differently than salmon, WMY. FSC is not related to commercial TAC.
 
Not what’s happening on the grounds. These are experienced fishermen abusing a system
Exactly what I was also told by a fish plant worker....and when these other fishers come to the plant, they run up to the band office to get an FSC permit to cover their YE, end of story....then dump away.
 
It's managed differently than salmon, WMY. FSC is not related to commercial TAC.
thats not what we are talking about...these are dual fishers....they run commercial boats, land their fish at the plant and run up to the band office to cover their YE via an FSC permit....then dump the catch because no one wants it. No fish plant worker or owner wants to speak up for obvious reasons.
 
thats not what we are talking about...these are dual fishers....they run commercial boats, land their fish at the plant and run up to the band office to cover their YE via an FSC permit....then dump the catch because no one wants it. No fish plant worker or owner wants to speak up for obvious reasons.
exactly the issue.
 
Ok from what I have read here I have a feeling that the new stewards of the seas are not only dumping yellow eye but are also playing a shell game with permits and licenses. Totally in character if you read any historical accounts of these stewards trading practices along the coasts and inland. Here’s what would help reconcile things in my culture , simply have the newly coined stewards of everything declare that the real impetus behind all of this ceremonial, religious and food fisheries is money. I’d feel better not being lied to every single day, wondering how the rest of the non indigenous harvesters feel about the big lie?
 
Ok from what I have read here I have a feeling that the new stewards of the seas are not only dumping yellow eye but are also playing a shell game with permits and licenses. Totally in character if you read any historical accounts of these stewards trading practices along the coasts and inland. Here’s what would help reconcile things in my culture , simply have the newly coined stewards of everything declare that the real impetus behind all of this ceremonial, religious and food fisheries is money. I’d feel better not being lied to every single day, wondering how the rest of the non indigenous harvesters feel about the big lie?
We have been told how respect is important for true reconciliation. IMHO, this means respect by all. It only takes a few bad apples to spoil the entire reconciliation bushel...
 
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