Sushihunter
Active Member
http://www.canada.com/asked+explain+policy+that+costing+millions/1325563/story.html
MP asked to explain policy
that's costing B.C. millions
Courier-IslanderFebruary 25, 2009 12:00 AM
An open letter to John Duncan, MP, Vancouver Island North riding, published here by request.
After several years of discussion, in October 2003 the federal Liberal government with the full support of the Conservative Party announced the Halibut Allocation Framework. It stated that after First Nations constitutionally guaranteed FSC needs had been accounted for, commercial and recreational fisheries would share the remaining harvest on an 88/12% basis respectively. It further stated that if the recreational fishery required additional halibut above the 12% cap to maintain usual bag and possession limits and season duration, halibut quota was to be leased or purchased from the commercial sector by some as-yet-to-be-determined "market-based mechanism".
Despite disagreeing strongly with the philosophical basis of this management approach, on behalf of the broad recreational fishery the Sport Fishing Advisory Board has worked diligently to try and make this policy work. This includes participating in a process to develop a compensated transfer mechanism at the direction of then Deputy-Minister Larry Murray under independent facilitator Hugh Gordon. This process was successful and the so-called Gordon Report, endorsed by commercial, recreational and First Nations representatives, the province of BC and Pacific regional staff of DFO, was sent to Ottawa for approval.
Nearly one year later, earlier this week the SFAB received a formal response. Minister Shea has rejected the proposal and confirmed the fixed 88/12% commercial/recreational sharing arrangement, one that you have made clear in a previous statement you fully support. This decision is especially puzzling considering the business friendly perspective of the Conservative Party because, although the way the commercial and recreational fisheries generate economic activity differ, making direct comparisons a challenge, it is now accepted by governments that a pound of halibut caught in the recreational fishery is worth several times more than when caught in the commercial fishery.
Because of a lowered halibut allocation to Canada this year the implications of the 12% cap for the recreational fishery in 2009 are severe, with the total allowable poundage well short of what is required for a fishery as usual. Although no conservation issue for halibut exists, the recreational halibut fishery, which would usually be underway now, is closed until further notice according to DFO and when opened it is expected that bag and possession limits will be half of usual. Given the challenging marketing conditions recreational fishery businesses are facing right now a political, not biological, constraint on access to a common-property fisheries resource is a large and unnecessary hardship.
Mr. Duncan, it would be helpful in assisting the understanding of this issue by the many anglers and those individuals working in businesses dependent on the recreational fishery who reside in the Vancouver Island North riding if you could answer the following question. What is the public policy rationale used by your government to continue with the effective privatization of 88% of the halibut resource, thus ensuring that in 2009 Canada will generate a significantly lower economic benefit from the halibut resource available to it?
Jeremy Maynard
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
Jim's Fishing Charters
www.JimsFishing.com
http://ca.youtube.com/user/Sushihunter250
MP asked to explain policy
that's costing B.C. millions
Courier-IslanderFebruary 25, 2009 12:00 AM
An open letter to John Duncan, MP, Vancouver Island North riding, published here by request.
After several years of discussion, in October 2003 the federal Liberal government with the full support of the Conservative Party announced the Halibut Allocation Framework. It stated that after First Nations constitutionally guaranteed FSC needs had been accounted for, commercial and recreational fisheries would share the remaining harvest on an 88/12% basis respectively. It further stated that if the recreational fishery required additional halibut above the 12% cap to maintain usual bag and possession limits and season duration, halibut quota was to be leased or purchased from the commercial sector by some as-yet-to-be-determined "market-based mechanism".
Despite disagreeing strongly with the philosophical basis of this management approach, on behalf of the broad recreational fishery the Sport Fishing Advisory Board has worked diligently to try and make this policy work. This includes participating in a process to develop a compensated transfer mechanism at the direction of then Deputy-Minister Larry Murray under independent facilitator Hugh Gordon. This process was successful and the so-called Gordon Report, endorsed by commercial, recreational and First Nations representatives, the province of BC and Pacific regional staff of DFO, was sent to Ottawa for approval.
Nearly one year later, earlier this week the SFAB received a formal response. Minister Shea has rejected the proposal and confirmed the fixed 88/12% commercial/recreational sharing arrangement, one that you have made clear in a previous statement you fully support. This decision is especially puzzling considering the business friendly perspective of the Conservative Party because, although the way the commercial and recreational fisheries generate economic activity differ, making direct comparisons a challenge, it is now accepted by governments that a pound of halibut caught in the recreational fishery is worth several times more than when caught in the commercial fishery.
Because of a lowered halibut allocation to Canada this year the implications of the 12% cap for the recreational fishery in 2009 are severe, with the total allowable poundage well short of what is required for a fishery as usual. Although no conservation issue for halibut exists, the recreational halibut fishery, which would usually be underway now, is closed until further notice according to DFO and when opened it is expected that bag and possession limits will be half of usual. Given the challenging marketing conditions recreational fishery businesses are facing right now a political, not biological, constraint on access to a common-property fisheries resource is a large and unnecessary hardship.
Mr. Duncan, it would be helpful in assisting the understanding of this issue by the many anglers and those individuals working in businesses dependent on the recreational fishery who reside in the Vancouver Island North riding if you could answer the following question. What is the public policy rationale used by your government to continue with the effective privatization of 88% of the halibut resource, thus ensuring that in 2009 Canada will generate a significantly lower economic benefit from the halibut resource available to it?
Jeremy Maynard
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
Jim's Fishing Charters
www.JimsFishing.com
http://ca.youtube.com/user/Sushihunter250