The Federal government is talking West Coast fishing issues this week as the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans hosts a number of participants to their hearings on regulations related to the West Coast fishery.
The mandate for the Fisheries review outlines the scope of discussion that the Committee is looking to take in during their hearing process.
"That the Committee undertake a study to examine the regulation of the West Coast fisheries, specifically in relation to fishing licences, quotas, and owner operator and fleet separation policies, in order to evaluate the impact of the current regime on fisheries management outcomes, the distribution of economic benefits generated by the industry and the aspirations of fishers and their communities, and to provide the government with options and recommendations to improve those outcomes."
The hearings began in the last week of January and resumed this week, moving in to February with the Monday focus that of the Sport Fishery and a number Commercial fishing executives who provided insight into the industry, including Phil Young, the Vice-President of Fisheries and Corporate Affairs for the Canadian Fish Company.
Calling it a crisis where those that have been in the industry for years want out with economic dignity, while a younger generation is looking to enter it, but can't buy in, she observed as to how the changing nature of the fishery has delivered a drastic exodus over the last ten to fifteen years.
Joining Ms. Thorkelson by video-conference for the session was Des Nobels, who outlined some background on the state of the industry on the North Coast, as well as to explore the impact that has been found in the communities that the fishery is based in.
Among the recommended reading for the panel offered up by Mr. Nobels was the recent study Just Transactions from Ecotrust Canada that explored the changing nature of the North Coast industry.
The themes for both of the North Coast participants put the spotlight towards how they believe the current policies of DFO in the region are not working and how change is required to help sustain the industry for the future.
There is one final session set for today, which will for the most part be that of a fisherman panel, you can tune in to hear their contribution to the hearing process from the Standing Committee website here.
You can take in some of the discussion through the Parliamentary archive system, with audio transcripts of the activities to date available below:
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Monday, February 4 2019
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
The T. Buck Suzuki Foundation has been following the hearings out of Ottawa and they note that those in the fishery or have concerns about its fate can submit their comments to the panel as well.
Those who wish to do so, can find out more information on that engagement process here.
For more items of note related to the North Coast and West Coast fishery see our archive page here.
To return to the most recent blog posting of the day, click here.
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