Fishermen Fear Halibut Reduction

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Fishermen Fear Halibut Reduction

Published Date: 2009/2/18 0:00:00Article ID : 6184
Version 1.00
By Kristi Dobson

UCLUELET — Recreational fishermen on the West Coast are concerned about the impact management plans will have on the halibut fishery this year.

Recently, the Pacific Halibut Commission announced the halibut allocation for 2009. Commercial fishermen received 6,711,640 pounds, or 88 per cent, and recreational fishermen received 981,360 pounds, or 12 per cent.

But the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has yet to announce this year’s management plans – plans that indicate how many fish fisherman can keep.

Brian Clarkson, general manager of the Canadian Princess Resort, said he is concerned a reduction could hurt an already struggling economy on the west coast.

He said charters and resorts may be forced to reduce their season, which will have an impact on hundreds of employees.

Clarkson said the sport fishery has allegedly taken more than its 12 per cent, but he disagrees on the source of that information.

"The information was based on the average size caught and was supposedly over the allowable weight," Clarkson said. "That was based on the catch in Alaska, not British Columbia," he added.

Clark said for more than the past two years his resort has been weighing every fish caught, and those fish have been "quite a bit less" than the average size.

At Strikezone Sportfishing, owner Les Berg expects fewer bookings if the regulation is set.

"We could drop 20 to 30 per cent," Berg said.

Clarkson said he is lobbying the ministry to adjust the 12 per cent allocation to a fair and equitable amount.

"Twelve per cent is not enough for an industry that puts so much into the community," he said.



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