Pacific Prawn Fisherman’s Proposal

[PEETZcanada]

No area survey Equals closed to both commercial and recreational. It will automatically fall back to the precautionary principle. That is exactly what happened to the commercial shrimp fisherman in areas where no survey was afforded. No data, no fishing...remember that.

 

[terrin]

Well, there's a few complications:
1/ DFO depends on spawner index surveys to close areas;
2/ The PPFA currently funds these surveys, but says they won't continue funding for some areas in 2026;
3/ What areas exactly haven't been publicly specified, but are likely areas with high sportsfishing pressure; and
4/ DFO took a $500M budget cut last week (over the next 4 years).

What would you do as a upper-level DFO manager to reduce spending? Closing these areas with no spawner index surveys would also reduce spending on monitoring & enforcement.

So, is DFO going to close these areas totally - or instead open them for a limited and shorter time; closing them early & prematurely using the "Precautionary Approach"?

They can use that “precautionary approach” on the Commies since they carpet bag every square inch for a month.

 

[PEETZcanada]

They can use that “precautionary approach” on the Commies since they carpet bag every square inch for a month.

And as recreational license holders we have no annual limit or size limit or mesh size limit and we get to trap almost all year round depending upon the area coast wide. Personally I would rather figure out a way to work with all sectors before its too late, if there is no commercial fishery, there will be no sportfishing either. But if commercial and FN partner without recreational anglers, well I'd hate to even speak it, so I won't.

 

[Hardy Guy]

The commercial fishermen implemented the SI and the sampling, which they pay for with fees to their association. They also implemented trap limits, their haul time limits. At one time commercial fishermen fished prawns year around... they developed their markets and paid for management measures. .... that being said .... I don't support all measures they want or request.... but rec anglers could and should work with dfo, science and other user groups to improve magement, conservation and opportunities. I agree with peetz comments.

 

[SpringVelocity]

We have to make decisions on any of these fisheries on what science says at end of day. DFO we know has trouble with that.

DFO should be doing the index counts in all areas. Not doing them is frankly stupid.

Some of the comments are a bit weird. The SFAB process works with all the user groups. Not sure why we're going on that no one is working with each other.

If you think you can do better and form some alliance by all means. The SFAB needs people who can do it. Step up.

There are many examples of when requests between commercial and rec like accommodating start dates etc.were done successfully through roundtable process.

We as a sector can't always say yes to everything regardless what user group it is.

The rec sector has given enough with the prawn fishery in my opinion. Have to push back on this one.

 

[Hardy Guy]

No one is saying the PPFA are always right. I just wonder how a request like this moves forward if SI sampling stops and all the rc sector does is push back..... ? Washington gets 4 days to prawn fish on the inside.

 

[ship happens]

Prawns are the easiest to manage and completely sustainable.

The fishing industry in general, commercial and recreational need and alliance fund. Definetly won't be getting the funding from DFO. Alaska has what.. 3 percent of all catch on commercial go into their fund? Also a 100 dollar salmon stamp for pacific rec could create 30 plus million a year. That could all go into an alliance for managing said stocks and leader groups etc.



No over night sets


People trying to over micro manage useless things right now might be the most waste of time ever. There is alot bigger topics to be focusing on.

 

[PEETZcanada]

We have to make decisions on any of these fisheries on what science says at end of day. DFO we know has trouble with that.

DFO should be doing the index counts in all areas. Not doing them is frankly stupid.

Some of the comments are a bit weird. The SFAB process works with all the user groups. Not sure why we're going on that no one is working with each other.

If you think you can do better and form some alliance by all means. The SFAB needs people who can do it. Step up.

There are many examples of when requests between commercial and rec like accommodating start dates etc.were done successfully through roundtable process.

We as a sector can't always say yes to everything regardless what user group it is.

The rec sector has given enough with the prawn fishery in my opinion. Have to push back on this one.

Sadly comprehension is always the bane in many forum conversations and frankly, if I have done a terrible job of reitterating that I'd rather partner with all sectors than fight with them as some have eluded to, then I absolutely have done a terible job of conveying my opinion. There was no where that I stated any ill against SFAB. LOL

 

[Kasiks]

So recreational traps and their associated floats are a navigation hazard if left in over night,......But the commercial prawn trap floats are not, the commercial Crab floats are not, the commercial Sable Fish, Halibut, etc are not ....seems pretty convenient, that its only rec floats that are a navigation hazard.

Increased ghost fishing due to the Rec traps, (which have Rot cord) yet the prawn fleet and their combined 73,000 traps in the water are not ? and yes that number is based on no license stacking, which might reduce it a bit but again its only the rec that need to get out of the water at night.

.......seems clear the motive, get the sports fleet out of the way so the commercial sector can increase their catch. And with the prices that prawns sell for...and prawn licenses leasing for some where in the 80K mark based on 2024 prices i found people complaining about , one can understand their position. But don't pretend try and take a moral high ground position unless we are also going to get some of those 73000 traps out of the water too, you know to reduce Ghost fishing traps . ...it seems the real problem is $$ not the environment .....

 

[searun]

The real motive on part of the PPFA is they need the recreational night time ban in order to proceed with their proposed extended hours of operation - which would benefit from being able to run back in the dark. They can avoid their own traps/floats because they are all using the larger scotsman's and also know where their competitors are setting - but they are less able to see/avoid smaller sized recreational bouys.

This proposal is entirely self-serving and designed to support their extended hours proposal. It has nothing at all to do with the trumped up conservation rationale that appears to have been written up on the back of a napkin in the bar. The whole thing is a joke.

If they truly wanted something to negotiate for implementing the extended hours, how about a trade off.... no winter recreational prawn closures, in trade for a recreational closure for the entire duration of the commercial prawn fishery...that would end gear conflicts. It also allows a sustainable winter prawn fishery to proceed. Especially, since given the requirement to release berried female prawns and the science backed extremely low post release mortality. Not to mention the winter recreational prawn fishery has low angler effort largely due to poor weather and angler interest - thus low risk.

 

[Fishing?]

A few questions.

Wouldn't making rec fishers pull traps by 8 pm make anything close to that time open season on the traps? Anyone can pull them without any worries?

Haven't most ghost traps been long line traps? It seems to me I have hard of 30 or traps, ghost or not being pulled all at once, that isn't commercial?

If conservation then maybe like Stuart Channel, 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off for all?
Do DFO even pull traps to see if they are abandoned or ghosts?
Does the DFO use camera at docks to see who is illegally fishing?

Do any of these measures include ALL fishers?

IMO prawn fishing seems more by the honor system than anything.

But again, IMO what is good for the goose is good for the gander, if recs have to pull traps by 8 pm, then possible commercial and FNs as well, just make ALL traps after a certain time illegal, then many fewer DoF officers are need.
I think technology is advanced enough to make "tracers" cheaper, if someone can track their luggage around the word why not a trap that has to have a surface float? It might also make thefts easier to track as well. They are very small

 

[Augie]

the PFFA ignore the fact that there’s plenty of daylight after 8 pm in the late spring and summertime. If the recreational fisher has to do it in the name of conservation then they should too.

Let’s extend it to long liners and crabbers too. And maybe while we are at it the commercial halibut fishing should be limited to fish that are 102 cms or less. Bloody hell there’s another letter I have to write to my MP about recreational fishing.

I’m all for working together but this was clearly a shot at recreational fishermen. Combine that with the SRKW fishing restrictions they want to impose on the entire south coast; I think enough is enough.

 

[wildmanyeah]

commercial halibut fishing should be limited to fish that are 102 cms

They have chosen to manage theirs with a minimum size limit, they are allocated 85% of the Canadian tac. The amount of TAC is decided by international pacific halibut commission. TAC is determined by a % of the biomass that is of a harvestable age class, set line surveys ect ect

Our size limits are just to try to slow down our catch of our allotted % of the biomass that’s been identified for harvest.

Halibut seems to be pretty well managed only real gripe is the 15% rec has been allocation out of the Canadian tac.

 

[Augie]

They have chosen to manage theirs with a minimum size limit, they are allocated 85% of the Canadian tac. The amount of TAC is decided by international pacific halibut commission. TAC is determined by a % of the biomass that is of a harvestable age class, set line surveys ect ect

Our size limits are just to try to slow down our catch of our allotted % of the biomass that’s been identified for harvest.

Halibut seems to be pretty well managed only real gripe is the 15% rec has been allocation out of the Canadian tac.

For sure I was just being sarcastic truthfully. One wish I have is that we can just be told the truth. Here’s why this regulation exists. Then we can weigh it and decide if it makes sense. But everything is in the name of conservation these days. Just makes the distrust grow. At least in my opinion.

 

[Hardy Guy]

The facts have been out there for a long time. Folks choose to not learn or don't find out the reasons for management measures... easy to just say DFO messed it up..

 

[searun]

Honestly, I think the PPFA proposal is a huge over-reach - they should mind their own business.

 

[Kasiks]

So the problem is, according to the commercial prawn fishermen anyway, that recreational floats are getting run over and cut by marine traffic that is not keeping a proper watch while driving their vessels at night. So their solution is to remove the floats.

 

[ship happens]

That's the biggest load of garbage I've heard since the whales. Good luck with that.

 

[salmonkiller01]

My concern with this proposal is Dfo seems to be very lazy and any chance they get they love to take opportunities away from recreational fisherman