Recreational Halibut - Government Running To Stand Still...

[IronNoggin]

From the Sportfishing Institute:

Update - January 20, 2012

Waiting for a Halibut Announcement

Well it's the middle of January and we're still waiting. We told you in our last update that several SFI representatives had been told in the weeks leading up to Christmas that we could expect a formal decision and announcement from Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield and his Parliamentary Secretary Randy Kamp on the 2012 halibut fishery by the end of the year. Sadly, the end of the year has come and gone and we have no idea when to expect any news.

We're working the phones and talking to our contacts to try to find out what is going on. This week Vancouver Island MLA John Horgan and Vancouver Island MP Randall Garrison wrote Ashfield urging him to make a good decision and make it soon so that sport fishing businesses can get on with planning and selling trips.

Our colleagues at the BC Wildlife Federation have been telling government that they believe that there are solutions to the sharing of halibut while maintaining the quota system within the commercial sector. Like the SFI, the BCWF supports a recreational halibut season from February to December with a catch of 2 per day and a possession limit of three. The BCWF believes that the recreational fishery should be allocated sufficient halibut in lbs/kg to support this season and the remainder goes to the commercial fishery.

We shouldn't forget that last spring, Prime Minister Stephen Harper told Vancouver Island residents that "Our government recognizes the importance of the halibut fishery in BC. The jobs and regional economic impact of the commercial, recreational and related tourism in BC are substantial. We remain committed to finding a solution to BC's halibut allocation issue in advance of the 2012 season that strikes a fair balance between all sectors." We expect him to keep his commitment.

We will continue to press government for an early, positive decision. We encourage everybody in the sport fishing sector, to call their local MP or MLA and ask them to do the same.

We'll keep you posted through as-it-happens updates or by posting on the SFI website.

For more information contact:

Sport Fishing Institute of BC

t: 604.270.3439

w: www.sportfishing.bc.ca.

e: info@sportfishing.bc.ca

[IronNoggin]

DFO Waffling Hurts BC Businesses!


By Rachel Stern - Nanaimo News Bulletin
Published: January 26, 2012 12:00 PM

The recreational fishing economy is hurting because of the delayed announcement on 2012 halibut fishery quotas.

Guides, fishing lodges and charter companies are trying to book customers, but aren’t getting any bites because nothing has been announced about the season, said Clyde Wicks, chairman of the Sport Fishing Advisory Committee Nanaimo branch.

“It’s devastating to guides,” he said.

Wayne Harling, a member of the B.C. Coalition of Salt Water Anglers, said the announcement was expected months ago.

“This has a very profound impact on some coastal communities,” said Harling, adding the effects are deeper for smaller communities more reliant on the recreational sector.

Recreational fishermen expected an announcement before the end of 2011, which was later extended to the end of this month.

Wicks said anglers are now being told the announcement could be made before the beginning of the 2012 halibut season, which has typically been in February, but can be as late as March.

Last spring, former Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea appointed parliamentary secretary Randy Kamp to develop options for the 2012 season that addressed concerns from stakeholders. He examined issues of conservation, economic prosperity and flexibility options to transfer allotments between the commercial and recreational sector.

Robert Alcock, president of the Sport Fishing Institute of British Columbia, said the recreational sector was promised there would be changes made to the halibut allocation policy.

Recreational fishermen want their portion of the catch increased, while the commercial sector wants the allocation percentages to remain the same. The halibut fishery is split 88 to 12 per cent between the commercial and recreational fisheries. First Nations also receive a portion, which is allocated before the split.

Wicks said anglers want a percentage that will enable them to fish from the typical start of the season in February to the end of December and maintain a two halibut possession limit.

The International Pacific Halibut Commission, an international organization formed in 1923 by a convention between the Canadian and U.S. governments to research and manage Pacific halibut stocks, met this week in Anchorage, Ala. to determine each country’s total allowable catch for the year.

Last year’s total allowable catch was 7.6 million pounds. The recreation sector’s portion was 947,760 pounds and the commercial portion was about 6.7 million.

Tamee Karim, Department of Fisheries and Oceans manager of ground fish, said Canada first needs to know its total allowable catch for the season before announcing when the season will open. She added that determining total allowable catch limits is a separate issue from changes to the quotas.

She said any announcements regarding changes to the halibut fishery will come from Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield.

reporter3@nanaimobulletin.com

[lorneparker1]

big surprise!!

[Jagermeister]

No news is at least not bad news.................YET!
I wonder what is taking so long for a pitance of the catch?

[22savage]

http://nwcoastenergynews.com/2011/12/07/239/international-halibut-commission-recommends-drastic-cuts-in-quotas-with-worse-to-come/ Sounds like it might suck for everybody this year and maybe for a few more years to come.

[IronNoggin]

2012 International Pacific Halibut Commission - SFI IPHC Report

The annual meeting of the International Pacific Halibut Commission took place last week in Anchorage Alaska.

As an indication of the importance Canada places on the issue of halibut management, Canada's delegation was led by Michael Pearson, the head of DFO's International Division in Ottawa (and the grandson of former Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson)
The Canadian recreational fishery contingent included SFI directors, Gerry Kristianson, John McCulloch, and Martin Paish, and SFAB groundfish chair Chuck Ashcroft.

Concerned by what it terms "uncertainty in the stock assessment process and future estimates of exploitable biomass", and troubled by retrospective indications that the model used in recent years to estimate biomass may be inaccurate, the IPHC staff switched to a new model (also know as the "Wobble SQ" should you want to demonstrate your technical expertise and impress your fishing buddies) and recommended a 20% overall decrease in harvest to a total of 33 million pounds compared with last year's 41 million.

In recognition that data from the Canadian zone shows a different trend than elsewhere, the staff recommendation for Canada's 2012 TAC was 6.63 million pounds, a 13% decrease from last year's 7.65 million.

The IPHC commissioners have two advisory bodies, the Conference Board, composed of commercial, recreational and First Nations harvesters and the Processors Advisory Group (PAG). Although the PAG endorsed the staff recommendations, all but one of the Canadian representatives on the Conference Board supported a higher number for Canada, citing the work done to reduce bycatch and account for all mortalities in our fisheries. This number of 7.04 million pounds was endorsed by the Commission, in what can only be considered as a tribute to Michael Pearson's leadership and the able support of Laura Richards and Gary Robinson. Canada's share of the total coastwide harvest increased to 21% from 18.6% in 2011.

Even this small improvement over the staff recommendations is a tribute to the fact that Canada has been working hard to present a united front in its halibut negotiations with the United States. One irony at this year's meeting was that the single Conference Board vote against an increase in the Canadian share came from the person representing the UFAWU. The rumble you felt last Wednesday afternoon was Homer Stevens turning in his grave as a Fishermen's union rep said he wanted fewer fish for Canada!

Another achievement for Canada was that the Conference Board unanimously endorsed a resolution from Gerry Kristianson calling on the commission to consider closing nursery areas where large numbers of juvenile halibut are being slaughtered in the Pollock trawl fishery, and a motion from the PHMA's Chris Sporer calling for continued action to deal with the bycatch in US waters which is significantly reducing the movement of mature fish into the Canadian zone- by as much as a million pounds of harvestable fish a year according to IPHC staff.

It is also worth noting that conspicuously absent from this year's meeting was any sign of the many Canadian environmental groups who have been quick to criticize recreational catch monitoring standards and support the "slipper skippers" and their commercial ITQs. While these groups are only too happy to criticize recreational halibut anglers, they seem strangely indifferent to the massive by-catch of juvenile halibut, Chinook and chum that is taking place in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska. Indeed, in a recent story in Ketchikan's Sit News, Kathy Hansen, executive director of the Southeast Alaska Fishermen's Alliance said "It's a bit uncomfortable to be from Alaska where we supposedly have sustainable fisheries and the best management in the world,"

SFI will meet with Minister Ashfield

The SFI continues to work on the halibut issue at all levels possible. A meeting with Minister Ashfield has been arranged this week to discuss the Halibut allocation issue and the delay of the announcement.

Watch for news and updates on this issue.

For more information contact:

Sport Fishing Institute of BC
t: 604.270.3439
w: www.sportfishing.bc.ca.
e: info@sportfishing.bc.ca

The SFI Team,
Sport Fishing Institute of British Columbia

[Fishhound]

IronNoggin, thanks for the update

[IronNoggin]

February 3, 2012

HALIBUT SEASON TO OPEN MARCH 1

Rob Alcock, Martin Paish and Marilyn Scanlan met with Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and his key staff today in an 11th hour discussion regarding a new halibut allocation policy.

At the onset of the session we learned that the Minister has indeed been presented with a suite of options as potential solutions from the Randy Kamp process and that Minister Ashfield was looking to understand more clearly the primary interests of our industry and the key elements that are important to us. The Minister would not reveal the "options" but his staff assured us that all options are on the table.

After a brief overview of the industry profile, we clearly identified the need for "Stability and Certainty" in our sector referring to the need for a full season February 1 to December 31. We explained (as we have to all of his staff in prior meetings) what drives our sector and the pre-planning involved with the consumer buying process. We also stressed the importance and value of the early and late season halibut fishery as well as an inability to tolerate or recover from "in season closures".

We reiterated the importance of the halibut fishery and associated bag/possession limits required to keep the industry viable and profitable. Time was spent discussing the failure of the experimental recreational quota fishery and why a private market quota system doesn't work for the public fishery or its service providers.

We raised (again) the "Fixed Number" solution, ratified by the SFAB, and discussed in detail with the Minister. We believe he understood our message and the drivers behind it.

Our team turned a twenty minute opportunity into a forty-five minute clear and concise conversation on what didn't work and why and what will work and why. It was clear to us that there were some elements that the Minister and his eastern staff did not fully understand prior to our conversation but we assure you we fixed that.

Minister Ashfield informed us that the 2012 Halibut Season will open on March 1 and indicated that an announcement regarding the new policy could be made as soon as early next week.

In these final hours it is not too late for you to make a difference. We urge you to call your local MP and B.C. Caucus reminding them how important the recreational fishery is to you and the province of B.C.

As always we will keep you posted and let you know as soon as we hear on the new policy.

Sport Fishing Institute of BC

[pro 111]

Its all very simple. Keep the 88 /12 split for the commercial sports fishery and the commercial fishery , and give the Average joe that is just catching halibut for the table a 10 halibut per year bag limit. Average it out over a one year trial period and then take this share equally out of both commercial sectors. The Commercial sports fisherman can buy there quota or lease it just like the commercial sector does if they need extra to build there business.
I got my commercial quota chopped in half in the last few years. I have bills to pay and kids to feed just like everyone else. I had to look for other work.
Its about time you sporties quit your crying and find some other work just like the rest of the real world. Nothing worse than a bunch of crybabies trying to feed the polititians a load of bullshit at the expense of someone elses lively hood.
Remember , the cutbacks are for conservation. Forget about your wallett for a few years . The stocks are rebuilding and down the road it will all be good. Fish for everyone.
Good luck to all sectors this season.
CP.

[Tyee]

Looks like you did not own it and had to lease quota, and you know how that affects the bottom dollar. Like the Black Cod fishery the guys are risking everything, for someone to sit back and collect a check. This Quota system in all fisheries is disliked by all guy's that work on the water That Need To Fish. And by the sounds of it you are one that need's to lease to fish, that sucks.

[pro 111]

Looks like you did not own it and had to lease quota, and you know how that affects the bottom dollar. Like the Black Cod fishery the guys are risking everything, for someone to sit back and collect a check. This Quota system in all fisheries is disliked by all guy's that work on the water That Need To Fish. And by the sounds of it you are one that need's to lease to fish, that sucks.
I own some and lease some , actually if you get the right lease deal its not bad money . Like the rest of you , your going on asumptions instead of fact.
If you don't know the facts , don't bother commenting.

[Tyee]

I own some and lease some , actually if you get the right lease deal its not bad money . Like the rest of you , your going on asumptions instead of fact.
If you don't know the facts , don't bother commenting.
Sounds like you are a little upset, if you do not like what is happing get out.. less stress.. You will be offered a buy out soon. :)

[guest]

TO BE CLEAR .........

THE SPORTFISHERS PUT MORE INTO THIS ECONMY THEN ANY ONE !!! YET PATTISON and other major share holders CONTINUE TO BE THE MAKER OF THE BIG BUCKS


THIS GOVERNMENT and D.F.O. need a BIG WAKE UP CALL !!

HOW PATHETIC !

CT

[pro 111]

TO BE CLEAR .........

THE SPORTFISHERS PUT MORE INTO THIS ECONMY THEN ANY ONE !!! YET PATTISON and other major share holders CONTINUE TO BE THE MAKER OF THE BIG BUCKS


THIS GOVERNMENT and D.F.O. need a BIG WAKE UP CALL !!

HOW PATHETIC !

CT

like I said before , if you can't prove the facts , don't bother wasting your breath. Why don't you put some effort into your comments instead of just randomly beaking off! At least Iron Nogg puts in the effort.:-D

[pro 111]

Sounds like you are a little upset, if you do not like what is happing get out.. less stress.. You will be offered a buy out soon. :)
Nothing has happened yet pal except the sporties getting cut back. Don't be suprised if you need a camera on the side of your boat in seasons to come. Get accountable for the resourse before you start begging for more.

[madrona sh]

Not saying that I know. But one would think that the Sports Fishermen spend a whole lot of money. Big boats, Big trucks, all the gear and all the beer, eating out, Motel hotel. Also big bucks on charters, lodges etc.

[guest]

PRO 111 who are you to say I do nothing to try to make a difference, sounds like your putting yourself in front of others ..... look who's being greedy here ..... YOU PRO 111 !

Give your head a shake pro 111, all I ask for is a few fish a year to help feed my family and entertainment. Meanwhile, I spend thousands of dollars to try to get on the WET Coast, in everything from lures, gas, boat, ferry fares, accommodations, repairs the list goes on forever, only to get blown off the water because of high winds in my 3 or 4 day window to get my 1 fish per day allowed 2 poss. hally per trip. How pathetic, at least bring it back to 2 per day and 2 or 3 poss. limit. If you think thats too much you need to get off your high horse.

AS SAID GIVE YOUR HEAD and any one that thinks like you a shake.

WE need a punch card system, and more enforcement so the Commercials don't HOG EM ALL !

Literally MILLIONS OF dollars from tourism to manufacturing, etc etc. going for a dump because of OVER PAID POLITICIANS getting pensions to early, and NON representation of West coast Sportfishers ........ were a spit in the bucket.

Thousands of us will say we told you so when this goes the way of the east coast cod fishery and people like you, DFO and Politicians will be to blame.

CT

AS SAID HOW PATHETIC OF DFO to not understand what the sportfisher brings to the economy!

[Spy]

Another year & here we go again!Savage 22 & Pro 111 go back & read last years threads on halibut, again!You have one thing right pro11, Iron Noggin knows what he is talking about,listen to him!

[pro 111]

PRO 111 who are you to say I do nothing to try to make a difference, sounds like your putting yourself in front of others ..... look who's being greedy here ..... YOU PRO 111 !

Give your head a shake pro 111, all I ask for is a few fish a year to help feed my family and entertainment. Meanwhile, I spend thousands of dollars to try to get on the WET Coast, in everything from lures, gas, boat, ferry fares, accommodations, repairs the list goes on forever, only to get blown off the water because of high winds in my 3 or 4 day window to get my 1 fish per day allowed 2 poss. hally per trip. How pathetic, at least bring it back to 2 per day and 2 or 3 poss. limit. If you think thats too much you need to get off your high horse.

AS SAID GIVE YOUR HEAD and any one that thinks like you a shake.

WE need a punch card system, and more enforcement so the Commercials don't HOG EM ALL !

Literally MILLIONS OF dollars from tourism to manufacturing, etc etc. going for a dump because of OVER PAID POLITICIANS getting pensions to early, and NON representation of West coast Sportfishers ........ were a spit in the bucket.

Thousands of us will say we told you so when this goes the way of the east coast cod fishery and people like you, DFO and Politicians will be to blame.

CT

AS SAID HOW PATHETIC OF DFO to not understand what the sportfisher brings to the economy!

You are the exact example of someone who is missing the whole point. The only reason I hammered you in my last post was you sounded like a commercial sports fisherman. I totally agree with you that you should have a higher daily bag limit . It should be like chinook , have an anuall bag limit of around 10. Mark them down on your licence and when your done your done. Now you can take this however you want but the truth is the commercial sector has not grown one bit in the last 15 years , where the commercial sport fishery used to only need 250 000lbs , now they need over a million pounds. This is the exact and only reason that your daily bag limit has dropped to one fish. You should be lobbying the government to seperate the average Joe like yourself from the comercial sport sector because they are using average Joe as a leverage tool to get more fish for themselves. I would gladly give up some of my TAC to give the average Joe a few fish a day more. But I am not willing to get it taken away by a bunch of commercial sports fisherman trying to grow there business at the expense of mine. If they want more fish it's 60$ a pound to buy it , they harvest halibut for an income just like myself therefore they are commercial. I hope this clears it up for you and all the other guys that just want to put fish on the table and have a fun fishing trip with the family. The commercial fisherman is not the root of the problem.
Good luck in the sheep hills , it looks like we have something in common anyway.

[Tyee]

Nothing has happened yet pal except the sporties getting cut back. Don't be suprised if you need a camera on the side of your boat in seasons to come. Get accountable for the resourse before you start begging for more.
May be your kids will be a SPORTY ONE DAY if luck has it your grandchildren also. Why do you seem to want to fight. I have not tried to rub you the wrong way, you have just taken it that way. sorry will leave you alone

[ratherbefishin]

What I would like to hear more about is the ''by catch'' that cannot be retained by the commercial guys who don't have a halibut licence.What is the mortality of those halibut that are released-do they survive-or are they already dead?
I cannot quote the exact figures,but I seem to recall the ''by catch'' was about 20% more then the sports catch.If the ''by catch' is dead or dying and must be thrown overboard-that makes no sense to me.I'd like to hear an informed opinion on this subject.

[pro 111]

Probably a lot less than all those Chinook that are caught and released each year by the sports fleet.:mrgreen:

[ratherbefishin]

wasn't looking for an arguement-just looking for mortality/survival estimates on the halibut bycatch.I'm saying that if bycatch halibut have a low survival rate-they should be retained and sold.Makes no sense to throw a dead fish overboard under any pretext.

[pro 111]

you are right about that.
wasn't looking for an arguement-just looking for mortality/survival estimates on the halibut bycatch.I'm saying that if bycatch halibut have a low survival rate-they should be retained and sold.Makes no sense to throw a dead fish overboard under any pretext.

[Fishhound]

wasn't looking for an arguement-just looking for mortality/survival estimates on the halibut bycatch.I'm saying that if bycatch halibut have a low survival rate-they should be retained and sold.Makes no sense to throw a dead fish overboard under any pretext.

I agree, I think the bycatch of any species should be kept sold and taken off of the commercial fishermans quota

[Confused]

The problem with being able to keep and sell bycatch is that all of a sudden bycatch #s go up.....funny how that works.

[ratherbefishin]

I'd be more than happy to accept an annual limit-10 wouldn't hurt at all.I charter and get in 2 or 3 trips a year-some days we go home empty-others days we get a fish or two.But the ''one'' halibut daily limit is not good-fine if its a 40 lb ,not so fine if its 12 lb.and my fishing trip is over.