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Where we were last year at this time Note references to stacking
----- Original Message -----
This information was provided to the industry caucus this morning.
The Fisheries and Oceans review of the majority consensus recommendation
from the elected industry representatives is complete. A framework for
the pilot management program has been determined.
The industry representatives unanimously agreed at the Prawn Sectoral
Meeting of November 17, that the status quo was unsatisfactory for the
year 2000 fishery.
In a majority agreement, industry representatives requested the Department
to consider adoption of a coast wide single haul provision, with stacked
licences authorized to carry 500 traps, fishing 7 days a week. The
agreement was signed by the representatives of all of the licence holder
organizations except for the North Island Prawn Association, whose
representatives indicated a need to consult further with their members.
The Department has honoured its commitment to seriously consider the
alternative put forward by the industry representatives. In respect of
that effort the Department will adopt the caucus recommendation to the greatest
extent considered feasible at this time.
Feasibility was judged in terms of the enforceability of the proposal, a
condition and concern which was known to industry based on comments
provided first to the caucus on November 9 and then to the prawn electronic
discussion group on November 10.
The Department considers enforcement of the single haul provision to be
feasible in Pacific Fishery Management Areas 12 to 20, 28 and 29 which
includes the waters of Georgia, Johnstone and Queen Charlotte Straits and
adjacent mainland inlets.
The coast wide enforceability of the single haul provision has been
challenged in recent e-mail exchanges by members of the prawn discussion
group. We tend to agree. The single haul provision is not considered to
be enforceable in other coastal areas and will not be adopted for other areas
at this time.
Therefore the main framework for the year 2000 pilot management fishery will
consist of single haul, seven days a week, 300/500 traps in Areas 12 to 20,
28 and 29; and no haul limits, seven days a week, 300/500 traps in
remaining coastal areas including offshore waters.
There have been many concerns addressed to the Department regarding changes
to the stacking provisions set by industry by ballot in 1994. The
Department has chosen to respect the agreement achieved at the November 17
sectoral meeting by the industry representatives, for the one year period
of the pilot management program. Pilot programs are intended to test
alternatives. The Department hereby commits that stacking provisions will
revert to 300/450 following the year 2000 fishery, unless otherwise
requested by a majority of the licence holders.
In order to achieve compliance with the single haul provision in the
southern inside waters, setting and hauling time during the day will be
restricted. The current proposal is for hauling and setting to occur
between 08:00 and 17:00.
In order to maintain an orderly fishery and to separate the two management
areas, one year of area licencing will be adopted. The Department hereby
commits that area licencing will not be extended past the year 2000 fishing
season unless otherwise requested by a majority of the licence holders.
Fishers are reminded that area licencing has a history of working
effectively in the shellfish fisheries. The two most valuable of the
shellfish fisheries in the Pacific Region are both based on area
licencing.
The geoduck fishery provides the example of area licencing combined with
individual quotas. The crab fishery provides the example of area
licencing in a competitive fishery.
In the licence holder survey, 70% of the respondents indicated that they
would select a slower fishery option if provided that choice. The
proposed
areas for the single haul fishery, 12 through 20, 28 and 29 have accounted
for 64% of the landed catch in the period from 1995 to 1998. Data for 1999
remains incomplete.
The area selection process will be discussed at the next sectoral
committee meeting. At this time a selection process is contemplated which would
have licence holders make their initial selection. A second round of selection
would occur if the proportions of licence holders selecting in the first
round was significantly different from the historical proportions in
landings. Conditions which would invoke a second round of licence
selection will be discussed with the industry representatives at the next sectoral
meeting.
The Department had previously recommended 2 days off each week in the area
of the single haul fishery (lay days). We had intended to modify that to
a single day off weekly, on the basis of comments received from licence
holders. The lay day has not been included in this decision, as the
Department intends to abide by the consensus from the industry
representatives to the greatest extent possible.
Nonetheless, the Department strongly recommends that industry consider if
it may be in their interest to have a lay day per week, for several reasons.
A lay day will extend the fishing season. A lay day may support the
development of alternative markets. It may reduce crew fatigue and permit
in-season boat maintenance. It provides time to travel to alternate
fishing sites. If adopted, a lay day may provide additional fishing opportunity
for fishers in offshore waters which may remain open, spawner index and
budgets permitting, until the the coast wide closure takes effect. In these
respects, a lay day provides additional features within the fishery that
are not provided by the single haul provision. If requested by industry, the
Department is prepared to implement this feature in the single haul
fishing area.
Within the general framework outlined above, there remains opportunity to
improve the fishing plan in each management area, until Jan. 12, 2000 when
the final details of the year 2000 fishing plan must be decided.
DFO affirms the importance of proceeding with a pilot management program
in the year 2000 fishery. We are unwilling to maintain the status quo in the
face of the concerns expressed unanimously by the industry
representatives.
We are of the opinion that it is important to test the single haul option,
to assess the feasibility, results and costs, so that industry and the
Department can determine the potential of this management option within
the future fishery.
The next meeting of the Prawn Sectoral Committee will commence at 10:00,
Wednesday Jan. 12, 2000 in the seminar meeting room at the Pacific
Biological Station, 3190 Hammond Bay Road in Nanaimo. |