Recreational Halibut Fishermen Furious Over Ottawa's Latest Allocation Plan

[Sushihunter]

http://www.cftktv.com/News/Story.aspx?ID=1365556

Recreational Halibut Fishermen Furious Over Ottawa's Latest Allocation Plan
Wakita says Conservatives trying to privatize halibut

John Crawford
2/16/2011
The head of the Kitimat Halibut Allocation Task Force says he's appalled by what he called the Conservative government's plans to privatize halibut.

Ron Wakita said he was hoping Federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea was ready to resume talks to find a more equitable sharing arrangement between the commercial and recreational fishing sectors.

Instead, he says Shea announced yesterday that recreational stakeholders were being offered a chance to lease quota from commercial harvesters, as a trial this year.
"I'm absolutely ticked! Every Canadian should be mad as heck over this! Individual Canadians have to buy off of allocation holders, and it's suspected some of these allocation holders... they could be foreigners, so if we apply the principle that halibut is a common resource owned by the people of Canada, the people of Canada now have to buy allocation off a foreigner to be able to fish for halibut this season... that is absolutely bizarre," Wakita said.

Shea also announced yesterday the recreational halibut season will open March 1st, with anglers allowed a catch of one halibut per day, with two in possession.
Recreational fishing groups say the current rules that allocate 88 per cent of the halibut fishery to the commercial sector are unfair.

A town hall meeting is planned for Kitimat's Rod and Gun Club on Sunday, February 27th

 

[hooktender68]

Gail said the option to buy quota in order for certainty to invidual stake holders. Sooo, in theory, a lodge could purchase X amount of quota. Which would allow guests to go over limits legally, but they could/would buy halibut. Then what? the lodge or guide could legally serve/ sell halibut to who ever you want. Or what, A guide or lodge would also be able to limit out your guests on the boat and with the flick of a visa you could keep catching in order to get a larger one? This sounds so flawed, wow what a bunch of morons. It will be interesting to see that tangled mess unfold if allowed.
My 2 cents.

 

[Clipper]

This buying back of a public resource from those who should never have been given it in the first place is just plain wrong. As a recreational fisherman, I will never consent to or agree with any scheme that includes this practice. We need to stop this bs right now.