Federal government signs fisheries agreements.

One thing that is painfully obvious is that the buyback program of commercials was not about protecting the resource. Knew that when it was announced. It was about limited licenses/quota to make way for these ones.
The buyback program/DFO removed fishing capacity while simultaneously reducing quota and TAC. DFO and resource protection should never be used in the same sentence.
DFO is currently starving out many commercial fishing sectors which will be bought up at a reduced rate and then gifted to FN.
I wouldn't want to be the owner of a fishing lodge in any areas where FN have just been given commercial fishing rights once this process has been completed.
I don't get the sense that FN has much interest or concern if other sectors "survive" or not. At the present time they have the clout and they are using it to their full advantage.
This new "partnership" with FN has support from the courts, DFO, and the govt of the day, this is the new reality for all who fish, hunt, or otherwise use the resources of the land in any way.
 
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The buyback program/DFO removed fishing capacity while simultaneously reducing quota and TAC. DFO and resource protection should never be used in the same sentence.
DFO is currently starving out many commercial fishing sectors which will be bought up at a reduced rate and then gifted to FN.
I wouldn't want to be the owner of a fishing lodge in any areas where FN have just been given commercial fishing rights once this process has been completed.
I don't get the sense that FN has much interest or concern if other sectors "survive" or not. At the present time they have the clout and they are using it to their full advantage.
This new "partnership" with FN has support from the courts, DFO, and the govt of the day, this is the new reality for all who fish, hunt, or otherwise use the resources of the land in any way.
My concern, is that local recreational anglers will ultimately pay the price. Commercial Sports Fishing operations with deep pockets will purchase their quotas off FN while the resident angler will be left out and smaller commercial sports fishing operators will be pushed out of the marketplace.

Meanwhile, the large fish processing plants will squeeze the last bit of $'s out of the resource before it collapses.

We saw a version of this happen with the Basspro Shop owner in the North West of the province a few years ago. This has nothing to do with conservation and is motivated by $'s and the more $'s you have the greater access to the fisheries.
 
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for those of you that don't think this is a big deal maybe have a look at the fishery's notice that FN can NOW gill net the tyee pool. What a shame
 
Time to work together for a change....is that what just happened here. Very frustrating to be treated like a 2nd class citizen in a country that we were born and raised in and is all we have known. When is it that we are going to be recognized as indigenous to this country and have the same rights to resources. When is is that a person that only has a fraction of indigenous blood going to be non indigenous. When is it that we will all be Canadians with the same rights and access and treated equally in all things. We live, work and raise families here and have for decades because we love the country and have been raised in the area. What is going on now is not working for us and it looks like it is only going to get worse. I'll be damned if I'm going to be treated like a 2nd class citizen in our own country. I don't want to have to be begging to the natives to let us fish and have them say no because they are first. Equal rights and equal access for all is what it needs to be.
I should add that I'm not picking on you Jerrod (Spring Velocity) as you seem to always be trying to make things work but this is getting very frustrating. Please don't take offense.

No problem here your entitled to your opinion. I just look at what can work and what can't. Not working with them isn't an option at this point. We have to get used to that. This name calling and bashing within our group just makes us look stupid in my opinion. We should be working together to push DFO to put resources to help repair these stocks.
 
A secret commercial fishing agreement, what could possibly go wrong?


“The nations will work together to develop a new commercial fishing company that will operate alongside other companies in B.C.,” Slett added.

How the fishery will be established in terms of quotas and licencing is something of a secret and will not be made public.

“The signed agreement will not be shared as it is a reconciliation agreement between the nations and Canada and nation-to-nation discussions are confidential,” DFO said in response to BIV’s request to see the agreement."
That's BS. The freedom of Information Act applies to all government dealings. Need a good lawyer in Ottawa to kick their pants off.
 
No problem here your entitled to your opinion. I just look at what can work and what can't. Not working with them isn't an option at this point. We have to get used to that. This name calling and bashing within our group just makes us look stupid in my opinion. We should be working together to push DFO to put resources to help repair these stocks.
I guess the real frustrating part is "the work together part", the natives and DFO look at the sport fishers as irrelevant in these negotiations. There is no working together. Are they going to buy us out like they did with the commercial guys, not a chance, they just take from the sport fisher because we're 2nd class citizens with no particular right to anything.
 
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