Federal NDP call for ban on transfer of commercial fishing licences to foreign fishers

The Federal NDP is supporting a call to put in place a ban on the transfer
of Canadian commercial fishing licences to foreign ownership

A cause of some note to those fishing on the North Coast has been adopted by the Federal NDP, with Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach relaying word of a call from the Federal party to bring an end to the transfer of commercial fishing licences to massive foreign fishers.

In an update from the MP from April 7th the theme of a letter to Fisheries and Oceans Minister Joyce Murray was outlined, highlighting the importance of the need for the ban as part of Pacific Salmon Strategy.

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The letter co-signed by Lisa Marie Barron and Mr. Bachrach notes of a study from the 2019 Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, that called attention to the issue of sale of licences to non-Canadian ownership.

“That based on the principle that fish in Canadian waters are a resource for Canadians (i.e. common property), no future sales of fishing quota and/or licences be to non- Canadian beneficial owners based on the consideration of issues of legal authority, and international agreement/trade impacts,”

The full letter can be reviewed here.

The letter and follow up notes by the NDP members, builds on a UFAWU-Unifor campaign of march calling for an end of the transfer of licences to foreign investors.  

The NDP review of the situation also comes in the days following the delivery of a petition, that had been organized by UFAWU-Unifor to call attention to the issue.

You can review more notes on the Fishery from our archive page here.

Items of interest from the House of Commons can be explored here.