Matt, You are my friend so don't take any of this personally as its not meant to be...
No Worries Buddy! The entire matter associated with halibut is one of
extreme controversy at this point! No-one is happy with the current situation whatsoever, and that is bound to get our hackles up.
Apologies it took me so long to respond. Believe it or not I actually do have a life outside of these matters, and was preoccupied pretty much all day yest grinding through another batch of yummy sausages.
Now we've had another one of these "private meetings" between guides and lodges, and your recommendations are to give in to the current TAC and make it work with slot limits and a lowerd catch rate which is unacceptable IMO and is trying to pose BS limitations to extend the season a bit so guides and lodges can book more trips.
Again, nothing nefarious about the meeting. It was simply one of several regularly scheduled meetings for the Association over the course of the year. Business as usual as it were. The matter of halibut was simply timely as the recent announcement came just prior to the already scheduled gathering.
You should have been in the room if you perceive anyone was "
giving in to the current TAC". Far from it my Friend, most were as incensed over this BS as you, and many even more so!
And I am sorry if I left anyone with the wrong impression here. The discussions were not about how to book more trips
by any means. In reality, they focused on the potential of somehow spreading the season out for as long as possible, for
EVERYONE!
I wonder if you succeed in changing the halibut limit to 1-1 if you will see LESS business with a longer season then you would see if it was 1-2 and a shorter season?
The 1 & 1 suggestion was clearly noted as a "
worse case fallback" scenario. And yes, were it to be adopted, the guides would be taking a very solid hit. Many folks that charter do so for 2 days. In all likelihood were the 1 & 1 to be adopted, all the guides could expect a serious and negative setback to bookings. Everyone there recognized that, but were willing to take that risk in order for Everyone Else to have legal access through the best fishing times in August. Again, as a worse case scenario.
The thought behind the one of any size and one falling under a certain size wasn't put forward for the sole benefit of the guides. It was rather perceived to be amongst the least painful of options for All in order to realize a longer season. Definitely not seeking an extension into September "
as that's when guide operations shut down", but rather that even with any of the potential options discussed, with the amount of poundage we have been afforded this year, there is simply NO way to extend it beyond that.
The 1 & 2 plus slot size would very much effect guides and their operations. Many clients will simply not wish to wander offshore for a smaller halibut, especially when during the madhouse fishery on larger springs is occurring. And while it may effect a handful of those who travel from afar with their own rigs, it would have rather little effect on resident local anglers. It would of course directly effect those amongst us who prefer to fish in August's great weather, regardless of whether we are local, afar, run our own boats, or engage a guide.
... the truth of the matter is all of us ( rec boys) will go fill our freezers in before august with the current allocation.
aYup. In all likelihood there is every possibility of the "
Gold Rush" mentality setting in amongst many under the current situation. Many will probably venture out under questionable conditions that they otherwise wouldn't, risking life and limb to collect "
their share" before it closes. As an aside, it was these exact same conditions that lead to the original assignment of the ITQ's, as many then involved were willing to risk their and their crew's lives to get in on it before it was over.
Hate to say it, but the "
fill our freezers" line line does little to sway me. It smacks a little too much of "
as long as I can get MY share, to hell with anyone else involved". Not meant as a personal shot Lorne, just that particular mentality doesn't sit all that well with me. There are a great many players amongst our Sector, and I tend to believe we can and should share what we have evenly amongst us.
it might get us to september, maybe, but maybe not as there is no real accountability for our catch so the dfo can say whatever they want and shut us down whenever they want because we dont have a leg to stand on. What if they shut us down in June hypothetically? how can we prove them wrong that we havent fished our quota? we cant. And they like it that way. If it stays open till sept its because they wanted it too. It would have zero to do with a slot or anything.
We all agree that the catch monitoring for our Sector leaves something to be desired, and that statistical models aren't likely the best method to determine that. Recommendations from us have been largely ignored, as DFO has repeatedly stated they are happy with the way things are. Many guides and several lodges have been working on very specific accountability, and that is being carried forward. Perhaps one day we see a system in place all of us can live with, but that will take time...
So, for now, we are stuck with the system they employ for at least this season. And, that system follows a very specific pattern. By applying the estimated catch rate over the past five or so years, it is reasonably easy to determine just when they
believe a given amount of poundage will be caught. Based on this year's poundage, the saw-off clearly appears to be ~ mid-August. And while their system may be subject to some
fiddling, it is not nearly as much so as we'd tend to believe. The only way we will see it extended is by doing something regarding our own catch rates. Do I like that?
NOT ONE DAMN BIT! But that said, I do understand there are ways to "
work it" towards a season extending beyond August...
If they want to extend the season, starting later as I mentioned earlier would be a better solution then this. Say May 1 for example. Although i would not support that as it is still making concessions, at least it make a bit of sense of EVERYONES best interest, as the amount of sporties fishing hali before May 1 is minimal
For the very reason you note: "
the amount of sporties fishing hali before May 1 is minimal" a later opening is not a viable option. Insufficient poundage is caught previous to that to make any real difference in the overall picture. What it would do of course is penalize those who fish out of Victoria and area, as theirs pretty much is an early season show. Largely
Regular Joe Anglers by the way...
I honestly believe that the reasons for discussing the options presented was not at all for selfish means, but rather as a way to provide the maximum access (time wise) for
Everyone. And yes, that means the
Regular Joe Anglers, but also includes the guides. They, and the various businesses that support that occupation are very much part of "us".
Are the suggestions perfect?
Hell NO!
We shouldn't even have to be investigating any such direction! Rather obvious just who you have to thank for that.
Should the guides be taken to task for attempting to do something they perceive as beneficial to All? Again,
Hell NO!
They were
honestly and diligently working towards something
close to a viable solution for the benefit of Everyone.
I apologize if I presented this in the wrong way. Seems to have raised the hackles of more than a few. Certainly wasn't the intent, and I can honestly say that the discussions were held with the benefit for ALL in foremost consideration. I am sorry if that came across otherwise, but this was truely the nature of why the options were even being discussed in the first place. Moreso I am even sorrier we have been pushed so far into the corner that any such consideration was even neccessary.
What a friggin mess.
I think the guys from our sector that have to make a recommendation to DFO are in a bad place.
The guys that have to make this recommendation are not the bad guys.
They are just like you and me,they have to weigh all Canadians needs and use there best judgement.
Another point that needs to be made is the final decision is up to DFO.
What a friggin mess
TOTAL Agreement here GLG! No-one has all the answers. FAR from it. And those that work at trying to do something,
anything with the numbers we have been force-fed are publicly accused of being selfish and self-serving. Sad situation all round.
You can bet your bottom dollar though that the
Fish Brokers are rubbing their hand with glee over the dissention this is creating. Something else to thank
The Dino for...
There is
NO perfect solution. There are
NO easy answers. Screwed if we do, screwed if we don't. Pretty much EXACTLY where they want us. "
What a Friggin Mess" sums it up right nicely... unfortunately...
Bottom Line Lorne, rest assured your final comment
WILL be adhered to!!
Then we can protest fish, keep writing letters and flipping out. it got us 15% lets keep the ball rolling!
Abso-Effing-Lutely!!
Nog
