We also have issues with some areas being invaded by US charter boats from Neah Bay before the border closed - the first control effort approach requiring them to buy a license in Canada was an epic fail. Now we have sports stores in BC selling paper licenses over social media and mailing them south to the Neah Bay operators as a way they can skirt the rules aimed to address US charter operators abusing Canada's TAC. There are efforts underway to address this through a requirement for all non-residents landing their catch in Canada as a Condition of License. If we went to Area Based management, these sorts of issues could have significant implications for affected areas, whereas coastwide approach spreads the painful impact.
Another example that supports the suggestion that it is time to look seriously at working towards a refined version of the XRQ for Non Canadian residents that wish to retain a Halibut from Canadian waters.
How would it work? What would the benefits be?
Key points:
: Put more of the Canadian recreational TAC back in the hands of Canadian anglers by making it mandatory for all non resident anglers wishing to retain Halibut to obtain quota through a modified version of the XRQ. This would be regardless of the trips point of origin.
: Simplify logistics by making the new XRQ exclusive to non resident anglers. The option of XRQ no longer offered or needed for Canadian anglers to access Canadian Halibut.
: Eliminate much of the division by making it such that the non resident quota only allows non resident XRQ anglers to fish under the same regulations that govern the Canadian recreational Halibut season for that license year. No more buying ones way out of following the recreational regulations.
: Provide incentive for anglers both foreign and domestic to keep coming and utilizing Canadian service providers. The additional available recreational quota freed up would allow for more appealing regulations. By establishing that XRQ quota falls under the same regulations as resident anglers this would benefit both resident and non resident Halibut anglers.
: make better the process of tracking and confirming quota is reconciled by attaching dates for the usage of quota leased.(Similar to single or 5 day license) .
: Assist in ensuring Halibut is not mistakenly charged against recreational quota by applying a short time period to have quota reconciled after trip. Intent is to get data to dfo in a timely manner so it can be correctly applied and not assumed to be recreational quota. Lots to think about on this one. What consequences could be attached to insure this happens???
The closed borders of 2020 has clearly shown that there is a substantial amount of our TAC retained by non resident anglers.
Implementing some version of this would leave the Canadian fishers , both non guided and guided alike the full 15% to base a season on. One might say we already have the entire 15% to work with. Almost true, except a very small portion of the angling population uses that access to provide opportunity to non residents . This inevitably results in a substantial amount of our TAC being utilized by a very small and specific amount of Canadian business operators. Effectively this gives cause to severely restrict everyone’s access, foreign and domestic alike .
I know the historical thinking on things like this is that it immediately provokes the fear and assumption that revenue and jobs would be lost and relationships damaged. I would argue, (based on past results of changes that have come in our fishery to date,) that it would be far less than it may be thought to be. Might be prudent to consider that the more generous regulations generated would be insensitive enough to alleviate much of that .
Anyway I am seeking data on how much has historically been harvested by non residents to add to what we saw in 2020. So I can put more accurate perspective to this.
If anyone has such data or the email to whom I can get it from I would appreciate a Pm with that info.
