SFI Newsletter April

[SerengetiGuide]

Just received it. Anyone else read part of ms sheas rely about making a market based mechanism aka experimental permanent? Called it. She uses the fact that it has grown in size every year as a lead up to that...15% permanently ill bet.

 

[Gunsmith]

Remember, nothing in the title "Fisheries Oceans" says anything about conservation.

 

[SerengetiGuide]

Here is her letter to Rob Alcock,

Mr. Robert Alcock
President
Sport Fishing Institute of British Columbia < info@sportfishing.bc.ca >

Dear Mr. Alcock:

Thank you for your correspondence of January 14, 2014, regarding various issues facing the British Columbia recreational fishery. I enjoyed meeting with you and your organization during your trip to Ottawa.

The Government of Canada is committed to the sustainable management of the Pacific halibut resource. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) appreciates working collaboratively with the Sport Fishing Advisory Board (SFAB) in advance of each recreational halibut fishing season. In early 2013, DFO and the SFAB reviewed the existing management measures and changes were implemented to keep the recreational fishery within its portion of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) while providing for the longest fishing season possible. DFO implemented a number of management measures for the 2013 season, including delaying the opening of the recreational season until March 15, 2013, implementing an annual limit of six halibut per angler, and setting a maximum size limit on each fish caught. As you are aware, with these measures in place for 2013, the recreational halibut fishery remained open until December 31, 2013.

I appreciate receiving your input regarding licence fees and electronic licensing; the Department and the SFAB are currently collaborating to inform management for the 2014 fishing season, with the same objective of keeping the recreational fishery within its portion of the TAC while providing for the longest fishing season possible. I can assure you that your input is being considered during these discussions.

The experimental licence introduced in 2011, which allows recreational harvesters to lease Pacific halibut quota from commercial harvesters based on market value, continues to be available to provide additional recreational fishing opportunities for those interested. Participation in this experimental program has grown each year since its introduction, and provides fishing opportunities that otherwise would not exist for individual anglers and recreational fishing businesses. As DFO moves forward with regulatory changes to consider implementing this market-based transfer mechanism over the long term, the development of management measures, monitoring requirements and enforcement provisions will continue to evolve in response to lessons learned and to input received. The incremental government cost to manage the program is anticipated to be low, as the licensing and quota management infrastructure is already in place.

As you are no doubt aware, DFO has hired a consulting company to review the current Tidal Waters Licence fees and to provide advice to the Department on potential changes to those fees. The consultant will interview your organization and others in the recreational community to obtain feedback on potential changes and ideas on how these fees might be collected.

I appreciate your support for DFO's intention to move to 100 percent online issuance of licences effective April 1, 2014. As you indicate, addressing bulk sales and limited Internet access are challenges that require mitigation. As part of this process, the Department has been working with the SFAB on upcoming changes and options to address any problems. These options include encouraging individual harvesters to purchase their licences ahead of time, as well as a new vendor tool to provide the ability to pre-purchase licences and to purchase licences in bulk to meet demands during peak times for vendors. In future phases, DFO is interested in evaluating the development and implementation of fishing applications for installation on smartphones and tablets with the Sport Fishing Institute of British Columbia and other interested parties.

Thank you for taking the time to write.

Yours sincerely,

Gail Shea, P.C., M.P.

 

[wstcoaster]

I think the same system is now in place in Alaska

 

[Jencourt]

Think I need to go fishing. last post deleted I no longer have the energy to keep repeating myself.

 

[Derby]

Think I need to go fishing. last post deleted I no longer have the energy to keep repeating myself.

... me too

 

[searun]

Me three

 

[SerengetiGuide]

Everything is rosy eh pat

 

[vic-tory]

Reading that is a sad thing. Seems like direction SFAB has taken us is not necessarily the right one if the government makes this permanent. Clearly as has been stated before, regs chosen have resulted in increased use of this experimental license, which then allows the DFO to say it is successful. Stuck at 15%. The "plan" to get more next election will fail.

 

[Derby]

Still waiting on the out come of the Malcolm case.. perhaps in a couple month's we will know.... It's easy to say were stuck because we cannot go anywhere at this time....kind of like Ground hog day...

 

[vic-tory]

While sfab and others continue to say experimental won't become permanent as it is an obvious failure, this is not what dfo believes, and let's not forget they are really the only ones whose opinions matter.

I watched the halibut threads closely this winter and was actually the reason i jumped into the fray on here. Some like searun and most were adamant that the experimental is not to be worried about as its a failure, etc etc. then a couple said the trend is up, it will become permanent because of this and viewed as success by dfo...but they were shunned and told they didn't know what they were talking about. Clearly its searun and those type that actually don't know (you would never get them to admit it though). If the trend continues up again this year that would again show the importance of no size limit, as long term, if experimental keeps getting used more, NO CHANCE we get more than 15%. Think long term not short (ie. soooo important for october onwards open). The steps the past couple years for regulations are a big reason why this experimental will soon become permanent, regardless of the malcolm outcome derby. A few called it but they didn't conform to sfab is always right so weren't listened to. ooops, that closed mindedness certainly cost us.

 

[GLG]

Vic-tory
Where was it that SFAB said that "experimental won't become permanent"
Please provide a link to back up you accusation.

I can't think of one SFAB member that has anything but contempt for this program.
Seen plenty of motions being passed up the chain from SFAC to SFAB then to DFO against this program.

I know your upset about this but to strike out at the people that are trying to change things is not helpful.
In the past when the call came out to go to the meeting with DFO about this program did you answer?
I know I did.....
There will be one more round of public meetings before this becomes law.
When the call comes .... answer it, I know the SFAC / SFAB people will because they act.

 

[profisher]

One well know lodge went for the halibut quota and was then kicked out of the SFI. After the season they realized they had made a mistake because no customer was willing to pay for it. Now they are trying to mend things with the SFI and have admitted they made a mistake and have promised not to buy it again. Not sure of SFI's position on allowing them back or not.

 

[OldBlackDog]

It was obvious that this was and is the direction DFO is taking.
It will be happening to ALL SPECIES in the future.
So, get involved in this now or get used to this in the future.
Remember the SFAB is NOT a lobby group.
You need to work with a group that is a lobby group.
That is how the commercial group works.

 

[Whole in the Water]

It was obvious that this was and is the direction DFO is taking.
It will be happening to ALL SPECIES in the future.
So, get involved in this now or get used to this in the future.
Remember the SFAB is NOT a lobby group.
You need to work with a group that is a lobby group.
That is how the commercial group works.

You are bang on when you say this OBD. For those on southern Vancouver Island your local rec angling group is Southern Vancouver Island Anglers Coalition (SVIAC) and this is what this group is all about. If you have joined already as a member THANK YOU. If you live in Nanaimo or south and want to become a member you can do so by visiting the SVIAC website at: http://anglerscoalition.com/

The more members SVIAC has the more influence and resources we have to lobby on the behalf of rec anglers. Among the many things SVIAC is planning for this year is to send their President and a few others to Ottawa to influence some decision makers about how important rec angling is to the people of BC, the environment and the economy. It is important that we raise enough funds to go this year as 2015 is an election year. The bottom line IMO is this, every other fishing sector has lobbyists to promote their position and the rec sector needs some too, or we will continue to get the short end of the deal - plain and simple!

If you live in another part of the province consider starting a local or regional angling lobbying group. Talk to the folks at SVIAC, pretty sure they would be willing to help out some way.

The time for rec anglers to start to stop talking and arguing amongst ourselves and start acting to protect our hard fought and time honored, constitutional rights to fish is NOW, before the Fed Govt. limits our fishing access to the benefit of large corporate interests! My 2 bits.

 

[searun]

For the record, I penned a letter outlining halibut recommendations going forward from the WCFGA and we specifically pointed out that our membership of over 110 members voted to send the strongest possible message that we are absolutely opposed to the experimental halibut license system. I think you are grossly misinterpreting comments made by others suggesting that any form of a slot limit or halibut punch card would lead to supporting this bastardized commercial slipper skipper ploy to expand their profiteering to the rec fleet.

 

[vic-tory]

Not saying it lead to supporting it but it actually did lead to its "success" and other options wouldn't have to such a degree.

 

[searun]

Not saying it lead to supporting it but it actually did lead to its "success" and other options wouldn't have to such a degree.

Well if you have better ideas, then get involved in the process and change it. Barking on some forum isn't going to accomplish squat. If you want to join a local SFAC send me a PM with your local community and I will get your contact info to the SFAC chair for your area.