PRAWN SECTORAL INDUSTRY CAUCUS MEETING RECORD OF DECISIONS Dorchester Inn, Nanaimo, B.C. February 10, 2003 11:00 am - 4:00 pm Caucus Members Present: Bob Alford (chair)   Kevin Erikson   Kelly Loxton   Brad Bradley Bill Stefiuk   Tom Orr   Brian Van Dorp   Dean Keitsch   John Jenkins   Randy Happach Also Present: Chris Sporer, Joey Laukkanen DFO Enforcement Task Force Funding, $10,000 The Industry Caucus members directed Chris Sporer to write a letter to DFO requesting information on how the $10,000 funding was spent to ensure program accountability. Caucus members wanted a description detailing how the money was used as well as a proposal for any such funding requests for the upcoming season. 2003 Season Fishing Plan Caucus unanimously passed a motion that the same fishery management plan that was followed for the 2002 season should also be followed for the 2003 season. Caucus members felt the status quo should be adopted for the 2003 season, as there was an ongoing process to consider future management options for the fishery. Next Meeting Caucus members supported the idea of a March 31st Prawn Sectoral Committee meeting but felt it was imperative for the Industry Caucus to meet with DFO managers and science staff early in March to discuss the 2003 fishery. 2003 Tags Caucus supported using new tags for the 2003 season. Howe Sound Before they could make a decision on which vessel should conduct the testing in Howe Sound, Caucus members felt it was important to determine whether not DFO felt it was imperative for the same vessel to conduct the tests to ensure scientific integrity. Caucus directed Chris Sporer to contact DFO for a response. Scientific Permits The Industry Caucus agreed they needed to be more involved in the process for requesting and awarding scientific permits related to prawns as well as be provided with the results of any tests. Caucus also felt this needed to be clearly expressed in the industry co-management agreement with DFO; however, the Caucus wants to review the wording to be used in the co-management agreement prior to it being signed. Satellite Communications System Caucus members unanimously passed a motion that they do not support the satellite communications program at this time. Industry needs a better understanding of the objectives of this initiative, the results of the tests to date and a better understanding of what the value-added of such an approach would be for prawn resource and the commercial fleet (i.e., how would such a program improve the current decision making process). Trap Efficiency Testing Caucus members directed Chris Sporer to post a notice on the prawn list serv thanking Kevin at Ladner Traps for providing new traps to be used in testing the efficiency of double vs. single ring traps. Chris Sporer was also directed to send a letter on behalf of the Caucus to Kevin at Ladner traps thanking him for providing the traps. Future Management Options Caucus members picked up the Future Management Options Comment Sheet responses from the accountant's office. Caucus decided that any additional Comment Sheets received would not be included and should be destroyed by the accountant. Caucus members reviewed the responses. A total of 158 responses were counted. One of the 158 responses could not be associated with a specific commercial prawn licence and was considered spoiled and not counted. Therefore a total of 157 eligible responses were received, of which: - 3 supported a combination of trap blocks and trap reduction and area licensing - 1 supported a combination of trap blocks and trap reduction - 12 supported area licensing - 1 supported a split season - 46 supported the status quo - 94 supported individual quota management Coreen Van Dorp agreed to scan the responses into an electronic file and email them to Caucus members Caucus members felt it was important to get the results out to the fleet through the prawn list serv as well as a mail out to all licence holders and encourage them to talk to their industry representative. The Caucus also felt that the next steps should be determined at the next Caucus meeting in early March, once they have had a chance to consult with their constituents. However, the Caucus recognized that DFO would have to included in the process to answer questions about the different management options so that the best information could be put forward to the fleet. The Caucus unanimously passed a motion to approach DFO for a commitment that they would make staff available to help with the Future Management Option process and provide the necessary information.