Is the commercial salmon fishery still viable?

[chille51]

The Commercial fleet got together in 2020 to consider the future of their fishery. They published a report "The Future of B.C. Commercial Fishing." In the report, they landed on the realization that their fishery was no longer viable unless they could find further and deeper subsidies.

They also documented the need to get the recreational fishery to relinquish access to Chinook and Coho. Don't forget they already have 95% of Sockeye, Chum, Pink, and more than 50% of Chinook and Coho, and still are not viable. That means they need the lions share of the recreational allocation. Leaving only crumbs for the recreational fishery.

Their solution was a severely restricted locals only fishery - very much like Halibut - 85/15 fixed allocation. If that happens your fishery will look and function much like the current recreational halibut fishery - once we hit the cap, fishery closes. And, the recreational fishery will be forced into a situation where, like halibut, we are placed in a position where we sit down each year and manufacture regulations that slow down our catch rate enough to carve out some sort of fishery that hopefully lasts all season. Like Halibut, we would be considering implementing governors on the recreational catch engine like....lower daily/possession limits, size restrictions, area closures, or like Prawn - pulse fishing which is 2 weeks open, 2 weeks closed. And, no non-local resident fishing access. If you aren't a B.C. local resident, you are not welcome. Alarmist? I think some of these may become reality if this government agrees with the proposals currently on the table.

Under this situation, no lodge or guide operations could function and very shortly thereafter most of the service industry, tackle shops etc that are supported by a vibrant recreational fishery would wither away.

IMO no amount of subsidization and re-allocation is going to make any difference in making the commercial fishery viable, and why on earth would government risk the loss of very significant jobs and GDP that the recreational fishery brings to Canada and many small communities, businesses, families supported by those businesses etc.

I think the best solution here is for government to fully fund a fair and reasonable commercial retirement program. Leaving the remaining salmon allocations for FN's FSC, Treaty rights-based commercial fisheries, and Court-defined rights-based commercial fisheries....AND, the recreational fishery. Its clear that the current state of the salmon resource can no longer support an industrial commercial fishery - time to shift to high value, low impact fisheries that do not require industrial levels of salmon abundance to thrive.

If you value your recreational fishery - now is the time to act. Its as simple as taking 15 minutes and sending an e-mail to DFO or writing the Fisheries Minister....or both.

I emailed the specific DFO address associated with the consultation, and a 2nd email to Fisheries Minister, shadow minister, and every MP in BC with a riding bordering the Pacific. Managed to finally get my local MP (Nanaimo, Tamara Kronis) to finally schedule me for an in person meeting after initially requesting in regards to the proposed SRKW closures. I intend to speak to her about both issues.

 

[Derby]

Lol.. a pension plan? Really

 

[searun]

Lol.. a pension plan? Really

The more we dig into this, the more weird it gets in terms of the asks for even more subsidies from Canadian tax payer. I think its time for Canada to step up and offer a quality buy-out so the fleet can retire with dignity. Not exactly sure where the $ will come from for either a buy-out or continued subsidies - Canada is broke.

 

[searun]

I emailed the specific DFO address associated with the consultation, and a 2nd email to Fisheries Minister, shadow minister, and every MP in BC with a riding bordering the Pacific. Managed to finally get my local MP (Nanaimo, Tamara Kronis) to finally schedule me for an in person meeting after initially requesting in regards to the proposed SRKW closures. I intend to speak to her about both issues.

The reason why all the MP's want to talk SRKW is the SAP hasn't yet hit the airwaves in Ottawa. They also don't know about just how nuclear (worse) these proposed amendments to the SAP are for the future of the recreational fishery. j

 

[JWS]

I’ve got an email drafted and waiting for my wife to edit…im told I can come across a little brash. One thing I’m highlighting is how much money our family spends annually on rec. fishing and boating.

I know the deadline for input is Jan 23, but has DFO said when they’ll have a decision on all this nonsense?

 

[searun]

I’ve got an email drafted and waiting for my wife to edit…im told I can come across a little brash. One thing I’m highlighting is how much money our family spends annually on rec. fishing and boating.

I know the deadline for input is Jan 23, but has DFO said when they’ll have a decision on all this nonsense?

Recommendations from DFO Pacific Region will go up to the Fisheries Minister in March for a decision.

 

[JWS]

Recommendations from DFO Pacific Region will go up to the Fisheries Minister in March for a decision.

Thank you

 

[chille51]

Met with MP Tamara Kronis (Nanaimo) today. Apparently I was the 2nd person in her office today talking to her about the proposed SAP changes. Whoever was there before me left her a full copy of the discussion paper, with relevant sections highlighted. She does not have a lot of experience with the complex topic of fisheries management, but seems to want to learn more and advocate. She told me the best thing would be if she received more constituents coming to meet her and talk about this, so she can better understand and take those concerns forward. Maybe blowing smoke but I don't think so - she did sponsor the petition about the SRKW closures. Apparently there is some sort of "salt water fishing caucus" she is chairing, or trying to anyway.

Email​

tamara.kronis@parl.gc.ca

Constituency Offices​

Main office - Nanaimo
3-3188 Barons Road
Nanaimo, British Columbia
V9T 4B5

Telephone: 250-434-7110
Toll Free Number: 1-866-390-7550