Sushihunter
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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
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