Sport fishers just want a bigger halibut share

[Sushihunter]

http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/Sport+fishers+just+want+bigger+halibut+share/4080269/story.html

Sport fishers just want a bigger halibut share


By Scott Craven, Times Colonist January 8, 2011




There is a good deal of confusion regarding the current quota system for the Pacific halibut fishery.

As a sport fisherman, I would like to clarify some aspects.

The International Halibut Commission has been setting the total allowable catch since since 1927 and has done an excellent job. The biomass -- a way of estimating the number and size of fish -- has steadily increased and has tripled in size since 1985.
In accordance with the Thibault decision in 2003, the allocation of the halibut resource has been divided by the Department of Federal and Oceans.

The 435 commercial quota holders have been allocated 88 per cent of the total allowable catch; the remaining 12 per cent has gone to the recreational fishery.
The total allowable catch for 2011 has been reduced. Given the current split, the sport sector will likely see an early closure to the halibut season.

The sport fishery is not asking for a higher total allowable catch, but simply a fairer division of the current catch.

Sport fishermen are concerned about the long-term sustainability of all fish stocks. In the case of the Pacific halibut fishery, all we are asking for is a more equitable division of this public resource.

Scott Craven
Victoria

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Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/sports...alibut+share/4080269/story.html#ixzz1AS1bhCxA​

 

[scott craven]

Hmmm, the letter was re-worded somewhat... (with a few error's to boot)
I think we have to get the word out there that it's not about greed on our part
but really about a fair allocation.

 

[Karma-Kazi]

Sounds like the Victoria meeting once again is going to land on some bad weather as there is snow in the forcast and it doesent look like its going anywhere. Let hope that we still get a solid turnout even if the snow is falling hard. I will be there even if I have to walk from metchosin!

-STeve

 

[Little Hawk]

Good on ya for taking the time Scott. If you haven't made many submissions to the rags, get used to the editorial-knife. Sometimes it seems the more time you spend doing your own re-writing/editing, with the hope that a well written piece might make it to print as you wrote it, the more they hack it to ratshit.

Good writing is hard work and on the rare occasion I've felt I'd have achieved that mark, it hurts to have some 'Holier than Thou' editor demolish it.

Again, good on you regardless, Scot.