Believe it or not there are more guides on the coast then just those of you that live and work in the lower part of the province. A good majority of the guides working out of the North are ex-commercial fishermen, some even own quota. So while the group in the south has been stomping their feet there are a few things happening in the background.
1) not all commercial fishers are a-holes(sorry holmes). there are some that are putting quota away at a reasonable price to be able to get it out to guides at a reasonable rate. Is this going to be an unllimited amount...probably not.
2) guides that understand how quotas work are building a business plan around it.
Just
where on the North Coast are you assuming this will occur? The group out of Rupert have publicly stated they will have nothing to do with this. As have largely the QCI bunch. The Coalition, and pretty well all the Guide Associations have come out directly apposed to any from the recreational sector leasing under this travesty.
So, while there may be the odd ex-commercial guide who owns quota (I find it more than difficult to believe that these are amongst a "
good majority") that transfers that to his own operations, methinks that number will likely be very small in nature. And if they do, they will face alienation and wrath from their peers that have advised them not to. I'd hazard a guess that directed Public Awareness Campaigns right in their clients' faces may give them pause before getting too cozy with the idea.
No-one said all commercial fishermen are A-Holes. In fact I am one myself (salmon troll) and count a good number of those forced to lease halibut quota at exorbitant prices amongst my Friends. Putting "
some" away for recreational access is a poor business idea when it can, and will be, sold for top dollar to other commercial applications. Nice spin with the "L
imited Amount" - yet another tease to see if you can get anyone to buy in "
before it's all gone".
NOT going to happen but nice try.
Guides with any business sense very much understand the peril associated with bucking everyone else involved in the sector. Not much good for business when your Buddies look down at you with disdain for having sold them out.
And when the stocks do turn around who is going to be left standing?
Those that show
Solidarity with their peers by refusing to buy back their own resources and who work diligently towards positive change will be in much better standing once the dust has settled. Change
IS coming, there is simply no way around that at this point. Methinks any considering selling out our sector had better think long and hard on that - Is crawling into bed with
The Dino and a handful of her wealthy friends worth the anguish certain to follow?
Cheers,
Nog