http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...to-take-away-their-livelihood/article2363816/
The Future of Commercial and Sport Fishing – The Plot Thickens
This is a fascinating read on what the Government is attempting to do with independent commercial fishers on the east coast.
It is particularly interesting when taken in the context of the development of the principal of private ownership of fish/shellfish, the halibut debate and the quota ownership model which not only facilitates private ownership but also provides a mechanism by which such ownership can be transferred and owned by large corporations rather than independent commercial fishers who actually do the work.
Many on here over the last few years have advocated that commercial fishermen should be required to actually fish their quota in order to keep it, (no slipper skippers) including some that are apparently from the commercial side.
I find it fascinating that this requirement in essence was put in place on the East Coast by the Liberals in order to protect independent commercial boat owners/fishers from (as they put it) “… being pushed out of their boats and livelihood for the benefit of big corporations”. Further it looks like safeguards to protect commercial fishers included not allowing large corporate processors to own commercial fishing licenses.
Now it would appear that the Government wants to remove these protections for independent commercial fishers on the east coast and put in place a system which will allow one or two big corporations to eventually own all the fish and shellfish. It seems to me that is very much like what they have already put in place on our coast with the fish ownership transferable quota system for Halibut.
One has to ask; is this DFO’s and the Governments long term plan for all fisheries? Are we looking at a future where one or two corporations will own the rights to all fish on our coast and both commercial fishers and anglers will have to pay them to harvest any food from the sea? Will consumers have to pay what amounts to tribute built into to the cost of seafood to these corporate fish owner middle men who will rake in the money, contribute nothing, but for some reason always have the support of government?
The Future of Commercial and Sport Fishing – The Plot Thickens
This is a fascinating read on what the Government is attempting to do with independent commercial fishers on the east coast.
It is particularly interesting when taken in the context of the development of the principal of private ownership of fish/shellfish, the halibut debate and the quota ownership model which not only facilitates private ownership but also provides a mechanism by which such ownership can be transferred and owned by large corporations rather than independent commercial fishers who actually do the work.
Many on here over the last few years have advocated that commercial fishermen should be required to actually fish their quota in order to keep it, (no slipper skippers) including some that are apparently from the commercial side.
I find it fascinating that this requirement in essence was put in place on the East Coast by the Liberals in order to protect independent commercial boat owners/fishers from (as they put it) “… being pushed out of their boats and livelihood for the benefit of big corporations”. Further it looks like safeguards to protect commercial fishers included not allowing large corporate processors to own commercial fishing licenses.
Now it would appear that the Government wants to remove these protections for independent commercial fishers on the east coast and put in place a system which will allow one or two big corporations to eventually own all the fish and shellfish. It seems to me that is very much like what they have already put in place on our coast with the fish ownership transferable quota system for Halibut.
One has to ask; is this DFO’s and the Governments long term plan for all fisheries? Are we looking at a future where one or two corporations will own the rights to all fish on our coast and both commercial fishers and anglers will have to pay them to harvest any food from the sea? Will consumers have to pay what amounts to tribute built into to the cost of seafood to these corporate fish owner middle men who will rake in the money, contribute nothing, but for some reason always have the support of government?
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