Derby
Crew Member
February 3, 2013
________________________________________
Last Week: International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) - Halibut 2015
A similar outcome to 2014. Looks great for a full season of halibut fishing in 2015!
As we mentioned last time, the SFI Team joined other Canadian delegates at the International Pacific Halibut Commission when it held its annual meeting last week in Vancouver to set out plans for the coming season. The IPHC gave Canada a slight increase in its Total Allowable Catch (TAC) over last year from 6.85 million pounds to 7.038 million pounds. While there continues to be some debate over individual management area allocations, Canada agreed to this higher overall allocation and committed to ensuring that next year’s TAC would reflect any changes in halibut biomass. While this is good news for our fishery, it also underscores the importance of good fisheries management and the benefits of how good catch data can inform and effect management decisions.
Of particular note, it appears that the Bering Sea - Aleutian Island area is finally getting serious about bycatch in non-directed fisheries that you read about in our last update. The IPHC meetings heard from trawlers operating in that area and have been assured that action will be taken to reduce by catch allowances (caps) and actual bycatch, voluntarily in 2015 and by regulation in 2016. Interestingly, it appears that this action has been driven by the US Department of Commerce in the US rather than the IPHC.
An issue well-overdue to be properly addressed, it is worth noting that the current halibut bycatch and wastage levels in Alaska still remain higher than the entire directed Canadian halibut catch. While a large portion of the Alaskan bycatch is being utilized it is important to know that these fishing practices continue to occur.
As usual, the SFAB process will review the details important to recreational anglers and then recommend the management measures necessary to have a full fishing season in 2015. We will keep you posted as that process continues.
What is the SFI doing for you?
It is already February 2015 and we are renewing SFI memberships. We are interested to have those who are involved in the sport fishing industry and community in BC be members of the SFI too. In addition to participating in processes like the IPHC, the following are some details of what the SFI does for you and the sport fishing industry:
• Our directors, who are drawn from a cross-section of the sport fishing industry and community, meet 8 or 9 times each year to discuss the key issues facing the sport fishery….issues ranging from access, allocation policy changes, conservation measures, work with First Nations, fisheries planning processes and licencing.
• We work closely with the SFAB….in fact there is considerable membership overlap between these two bodies. But while the SFAB has a mandate to advise government on fisheries policy issues, the SFI has a mandate to lobby government on fisheries policies and to promote BC sport fishing.
• We work closely with groups like the BC Wildlife Federation on issues of importance to our sector, so that we can present government decision makers with policy solutions that serve both the sport fishing industry and individual anglers.
• We ensure that SFI staff, directors or volunteers are able to attend the many planning and policy meetings held by DFO, Transport Canada and other government agencies to ensure that the sport fishing industry’s views are heard and considered before policy decisions are made.
• We make written submissions to many other processes ranging from marine planning to vessel licensing and we mount annual lobbying missions to Ottawa where staff and directors meet one-on-one with federal MP’s, senior civil servants and political staff and the Fisheries Minister.
• We work with provincial and federal agencies to help improve and promote sport fishing. For example, we are working to develop a mobile and web based App that will allow anglers to view fisheries materials, notices and update on their smart phones.
• We are working with Destinations BC to ensure that sport fishing is properly and adequately promoted within and outside of our borders.
• We have also worked to develop North America’s first ever Certified Tidal Angling Guide program which allows guides to improve their knowledge base, gives customers confidence that they are hiring qualified guides and gives the public confidence that qualified guides are helping steward our fisheries resources. The program also offers a series of other direct monetary, tax and insurance benefits to guides.
Membership Discounts!
We would like to encourage new members or perhaps have lapsed members take out membership once again. To that end we would like to offer a membership renewal promotion; recruit a new or lapsed, same category or higher member and get a 10% discount off of your 2015 membership fees. Get 5 new or lapsed members to enroll and get your membership and limited edition gift free in 2015!
Until next time, tight lines!
The SFI Team,
Sport Fishing Institute of BC
________________________________________
Last Week: International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) - Halibut 2015
A similar outcome to 2014. Looks great for a full season of halibut fishing in 2015!
As we mentioned last time, the SFI Team joined other Canadian delegates at the International Pacific Halibut Commission when it held its annual meeting last week in Vancouver to set out plans for the coming season. The IPHC gave Canada a slight increase in its Total Allowable Catch (TAC) over last year from 6.85 million pounds to 7.038 million pounds. While there continues to be some debate over individual management area allocations, Canada agreed to this higher overall allocation and committed to ensuring that next year’s TAC would reflect any changes in halibut biomass. While this is good news for our fishery, it also underscores the importance of good fisheries management and the benefits of how good catch data can inform and effect management decisions.
Of particular note, it appears that the Bering Sea - Aleutian Island area is finally getting serious about bycatch in non-directed fisheries that you read about in our last update. The IPHC meetings heard from trawlers operating in that area and have been assured that action will be taken to reduce by catch allowances (caps) and actual bycatch, voluntarily in 2015 and by regulation in 2016. Interestingly, it appears that this action has been driven by the US Department of Commerce in the US rather than the IPHC.
An issue well-overdue to be properly addressed, it is worth noting that the current halibut bycatch and wastage levels in Alaska still remain higher than the entire directed Canadian halibut catch. While a large portion of the Alaskan bycatch is being utilized it is important to know that these fishing practices continue to occur.
As usual, the SFAB process will review the details important to recreational anglers and then recommend the management measures necessary to have a full fishing season in 2015. We will keep you posted as that process continues.
What is the SFI doing for you?
It is already February 2015 and we are renewing SFI memberships. We are interested to have those who are involved in the sport fishing industry and community in BC be members of the SFI too. In addition to participating in processes like the IPHC, the following are some details of what the SFI does for you and the sport fishing industry:
• Our directors, who are drawn from a cross-section of the sport fishing industry and community, meet 8 or 9 times each year to discuss the key issues facing the sport fishery….issues ranging from access, allocation policy changes, conservation measures, work with First Nations, fisheries planning processes and licencing.
• We work closely with the SFAB….in fact there is considerable membership overlap between these two bodies. But while the SFAB has a mandate to advise government on fisheries policy issues, the SFI has a mandate to lobby government on fisheries policies and to promote BC sport fishing.
• We work closely with groups like the BC Wildlife Federation on issues of importance to our sector, so that we can present government decision makers with policy solutions that serve both the sport fishing industry and individual anglers.
• We ensure that SFI staff, directors or volunteers are able to attend the many planning and policy meetings held by DFO, Transport Canada and other government agencies to ensure that the sport fishing industry’s views are heard and considered before policy decisions are made.
• We make written submissions to many other processes ranging from marine planning to vessel licensing and we mount annual lobbying missions to Ottawa where staff and directors meet one-on-one with federal MP’s, senior civil servants and political staff and the Fisheries Minister.
• We work with provincial and federal agencies to help improve and promote sport fishing. For example, we are working to develop a mobile and web based App that will allow anglers to view fisheries materials, notices and update on their smart phones.
• We are working with Destinations BC to ensure that sport fishing is properly and adequately promoted within and outside of our borders.
• We have also worked to develop North America’s first ever Certified Tidal Angling Guide program which allows guides to improve their knowledge base, gives customers confidence that they are hiring qualified guides and gives the public confidence that qualified guides are helping steward our fisheries resources. The program also offers a series of other direct monetary, tax and insurance benefits to guides.
Membership Discounts!
We would like to encourage new members or perhaps have lapsed members take out membership once again. To that end we would like to offer a membership renewal promotion; recruit a new or lapsed, same category or higher member and get a 10% discount off of your 2015 membership fees. Get 5 new or lapsed members to enroll and get your membership and limited edition gift free in 2015!
Until next time, tight lines!
The SFI Team,
Sport Fishing Institute of BC
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