Sushihunter
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http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/...sing_110903/20110903/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome
Surprise close of halibut season has sport fishers fuming
A surprise decision to close the halibut fishery on Monday has sport fishing operators fuming and their customers scrambling.
Note: There is video at the site - see link at top of this post.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has announced the fishery will close at midnight on Sept. 5, making the 2011 season the shortest on record.
Robert Alcock of the Sport Fishing Institute of B.C. said the early close will be devastating to the industry.
"People have had trips booked, there's shops that have inventory booked, manufacturers making tackle – it rolls down the line," Alcock said. "Small coastal communities [are] reliant on this income for their business."
The DFO says stocks are low and it's doing the industry a favour. Tamee Karim said estimates suggested the recreational catch allocation would be reached in August, but the department opted to keep the fishery open for the Labour Day weekend.
"The September long weekend is an important weekend for the recreational community," Karim acknowledged.
Tour operators received notice about two weeks ago informing them of the early close. Some in the industry fear tourists inconvenienced by the surprise closure may simply go elsewhere next year, like Washington or Alaska.
The Sport Fishery says that problem could be avoided if they could use more of Canada's halibut quota. Right now, commercial fishermen are allowed 88 per cent of the total quota – but often don't harvest that much because of soft halibut prices.
The DFO has a pilot project allowing commercial fishermen to lease some of their share to tour operators, but that's not enough for Alcock.
"It's our belief it's a common property resource. Those fisherman got it for free when it was given to them... and we don't see any reason why any other Canadian should have to pay for it," he said.
With a repot from CTV British Columbia's Penny Daflos
Go to the site an post your comments - be nice, this is for the general public - JP
Surprise close of halibut season has sport fishers fuming
A surprise decision to close the halibut fishery on Monday has sport fishing operators fuming and their customers scrambling.
Note: There is video at the site - see link at top of this post.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has announced the fishery will close at midnight on Sept. 5, making the 2011 season the shortest on record.
Robert Alcock of the Sport Fishing Institute of B.C. said the early close will be devastating to the industry.
"People have had trips booked, there's shops that have inventory booked, manufacturers making tackle – it rolls down the line," Alcock said. "Small coastal communities [are] reliant on this income for their business."
The DFO says stocks are low and it's doing the industry a favour. Tamee Karim said estimates suggested the recreational catch allocation would be reached in August, but the department opted to keep the fishery open for the Labour Day weekend.
"The September long weekend is an important weekend for the recreational community," Karim acknowledged.
Tour operators received notice about two weeks ago informing them of the early close. Some in the industry fear tourists inconvenienced by the surprise closure may simply go elsewhere next year, like Washington or Alaska.
The Sport Fishery says that problem could be avoided if they could use more of Canada's halibut quota. Right now, commercial fishermen are allowed 88 per cent of the total quota – but often don't harvest that much because of soft halibut prices.
The DFO has a pilot project allowing commercial fishermen to lease some of their share to tour operators, but that's not enough for Alcock.
"It's our belief it's a common property resource. Those fisherman got it for free when it was given to them... and we don't see any reason why any other Canadian should have to pay for it," he said.
With a repot from CTV British Columbia's Penny Daflos
Go to the site an post your comments - be nice, this is for the general public - JP
