Marine StationCommunity - University Research for Recovery Alliance
The Future of Canada's Commercial Fisheries:
Discussion
Discussion
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) recently released The Future of Canada's Commercial Fisheries, a document discussing changes to fisheries policy and management practices:
"Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is meeting with stakeholders and Aboriginal groups to discuss ways to modernize fisheries management... This document discusses the international and domestic challenges driving the need for management reform, identifies aspects of the current fisheries management system that may impede sustainable economic growth going forward, confirms the need to base economic decisions on a sustainably managed regime, and lays out the core elements of proposed new policies, tools and initiatives aimed at modernizing fisheries management."
The CURRA has established this page to highlight responses to the document, and to encourage discussion. DFO's deadline to submit feedback was March 14, 2012.
(Last updated March 26, 2012)
DFO's Document
The Future of Canada's Commercial Fisheries: A Discussion Document
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) consultation document discussing changes to fisheries management (January 2012)
[Note that DFO later removed the discussion document from their website. We have reposted it here to facilitate public input into the policy process, and in order to understand the comments and responses below.]
Responses from Fish Harvester Organizations
Response of Atlantic Canada's Independent Core fleet sector organizations to "The Future of Canada's Commercial Fisheries"
Response of Atlantic Canada's Independent Core fleet sector organizations to "The Future of Canada's Commercial Fisheries". Submitted to DFO. (March 20, 2012)
Response from LFA27 Management Board
Response from the LFA27 Management Board. (March 20, 2012)
Response from First Nations Fisheries Council
Response from The First Nations Fisheries Council.
- Letter to Honorable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (February 29, 2012)
- "Initial Response to DFO's the Future of Canada's Commercial Fisheries Initiative" (February 29, 2012)
Letter from the FFAW-CAW to Keith Ashfield
Minister of Fisheries & Oceans
Letter from Earle McCurdy, President of the FFAW-CAW to Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries & Oceans. (February 29, 2012)
Letter from the Acadian Fishermen's Co-op
Sent by the Acadian Fishermen's Co-op, from Abraham Village, PEI. (February 24, 2012)
Letter from the Eastern Nova Scotia 4VsW Management Board
Sent to the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
(February 21, 2012)
Response from the Gulf Nova Scotia Fleet Planning Board
A detailed response and written letter sent to the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
(February, 2012)
Speaking notes on the modernization of fisheries management
Presented by Dan Edwards, BC owner-operator fisherman and Vice President of the Canadian Council of Professional Fish Harvesters, at the Canadian Council of Professional Fish Harvesters workshop on co-management. (February 6, 2012)
La position de l'Association des capitaines-propriétaires de la Gaspésie
Response from l'Association des capitaines-propriétaires de la Gaspésie (ACPG). (February 2012)
Response from Guysborough County Inshore Fishermen's Association
Response from the Guysborough County Inshore Fishermen's Association sent to DFO. (February 2012)
United Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union - CAW
British Columbia's United Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union - CAW response to The Future of Canada's Commercial Fisheries. (undated)
Responses from Government and Political Parties
Conférence régionale des élus – Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine
Statement from the Conférence régionale des élus – Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine.
E-Newsletter from Nova Scotia's Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Statement from Nova Scotia's Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Sterling Belliveau. (March 14, 2012)
"Assurer l’autonomie des pêcheurs et la survie des collectivités."
Communiqué de La Municipalité des Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Document en français. (March 9, 2012)
"Exercice de modernisation des pêches commerciales canadiennes du gouvernement fédéral - Québec estime que les politiques du propriétaire exploitant et de séparation des flottilles doivent être maintenues."
Statement from the Quebec Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ). Document en français. (March 8, 2012)
"Conservative Changes at DFO Will Wipe Out Independent Fisheries in Atlantic Canada and Quebec"
Press release issued by the Office of the Liberal Leader. Document in English and French. (March 7, 2012)
Municipality of the District of Argyle
Letter from the Municipality of the District of Argyle in support of the Lobster Fishing Area 34 Management Board. (March 6, 2012)
"New Democrats Call on Conservatives to Protect Independent Fishers"
Press release issued by the New Democratic Party. (March 5, 2012)
Statement from Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Nova Scotia
Statement from Sterling W.W. Belliveau, Minister of Nova Scotia's Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture. (March 2012)
Media
The fishery is not working
Article in The Telegram by Derek Butler, executive director of the Association of Seafood Producers. (March 16, 2012)
Why fishy news matters
Letter to the editor in Prince Edward Island's The Guardian. Written by Tony Charles, a professor at the Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary's University. (March 14, 2012)
Company fish quotas and overfishing
Letter to the editor in The Telegram. Written by Glen Winslow, 3L fish harvester. (March 14, 2012)
Atlantic fishermen fear Ottawa plans to take away their livelihood
Article from The Globe and Mail. (March 9, 2012)
Ashfield talks fisheries modernization in Halifax
Article from CBC News. (March 9, 2012)
Fisheries minister tries to calm industry fears
Article from CBC News. (March 7, 2012)
What fisheries modernization really means
Article in St. John's The Telegram by Derek Butler, executive director of the Association of Seafood Producers. (March 6, 2012)
N.S. demands answers on fisheries modernization
Article from CBC News. (March 6, 2012)
Atlantic fishermen accuse Ottawa of plans to impose ITQ system to consolidate fleet
Article from Seafood.com News. (March 5, 2012)
N.S. fishermen fear future if federal policy changes
Article from CBC News. (March 1, 2012)
MP worried about 'fisheries modernization'
Article from The Navigator Online. (March 2012)
CBC Radio Fisheries Broadcast
CBC's Fisheries Broadcast has featured a number of discussions and coverage of the debates surrounding DFO's changes to fisheries policy.
- "And The Debate Continues" (March 8, 2012)
- "Minister Ashfield on Modernization" (March 7, 2012)
- "The BC Experience in the Fishery" (March 6, 2012)
Read a transcript of the interview. - "More discussion on Owner-Operator Policy" (March 5, 2012)
- "The Other Side to the Owner-Operator Debate" (March 2, 2012)
- "Union sounds alarm on fleet separation" (February 23, 2012)
Other Responses
"Coastal Communities in the 21st Century: challenges, opportunities"
A presentation by Dr Evelyn Pinkerton, School of Resource & Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University. Delivered at the Coastal Communities Symposium, University of Victoria. (February 27, 2012)