Pacific Fisheries Reform

1
Pacific Fisheries Reform

• Update
• Multi-interest Dialogue Forums, Fall/2006

2
What factors are shaping the future fishery?

• Conservation
• Higher standards
• Climate change and environmental protection
• First Nations
• Seeking increased fisheries access and
  involvement in management.
• Treaty negotiations proceeding slowly but some
  understandings are emerging that may lead to
  agreements.
• Obligation to consult and accommodate First
  Nations interests.
• Sustainability of fisheries
• Some commercial fisheries facing economic
  viability challenges
• Concerns about impacts of treaty settlements on
  other fisheries
• Recreational fishers have concerns about future
  access and opportunities to fish.

3
The JTG and FNP Reports (2004)

• Joint Task Group (JTG) made recommendations that
  would
• improve economic performance
• facilitate treaties with First Nations
• First Nations Panel (FNP) provided the First
  Nation perspective on reforms.
• Both reports highlighted the urgent need for
  changes in the management of the salmon fishery.
• Similar themes in both reports, but significant
  differences in how to proceed.

4
How did DFO respond?

• A commitment to reform guided by a Vision of the
  future and a set of Principles (April 2005).
• An approach designed to overcome current barriers
  to reform, improve co-operation among
  stakeholders and build greater confidence and
  support for an agenda of change.
• A 2005 Action Plan to start building the
  necessary foundation for reforms with more
  permanent reforms to follow.

5
Vision of Pacific Fishery Reform

• Full economic and social potential of the
  resource is achieved.
• First Nations fishing interests are defined and
  reconciled with the interests of all Canadians.
• There is public, market and participant
  confidence that the fishery is sustainable.
• Participants are self-reliant and able to
  self-adjust.
• Participants are treated fairly and equitably and
  are involved in decision-making and share
  accountability for the conduct of the fishery.
• Costs of management are shared by those who
  benefit from the harvest.
• All fishery participants enjoy certainty and
  stability necessary for business planning.
• Equitable treaty-based fisheries are achieved.

6
The 2005 Action Plan

• Wild Salmon policy approved and announced - June,
  2005
• Commercial demonstration fisheries
• Area F troll chinook ITQ, voluntary
• Area B seine chum IQ, limited scale, voluntary
• First Nations demonstration fishery projects
  Skeena, Quesnel Shuswap, Siska.
• Necessary legislative changes investigated
  through a Fisheries Act Renewal initiative e.g.
  license tenure, co-management.
• Multi-stakeholder forums and public open-houses
  to get input and feedback on reform
  recommendations received and future options.
• Parallel First Nations consultations to get their
  input and feedback on recommendations received
  and future options.

7
What did we hear during consultations?

• General support for reforms in the salmon
  fishery.
• Increased First Nations economic access to salmon
  is vital to meeting their fisheries aspirations.
• Need to address concerns of some First Nations
  with present access to fish for food, social and
  ceremonial purposes.
• More certainty, stability and flexibility for
  commercial salmon fishers is essential to
  addressing economic problems.
• Maintaining reasonable access and opportunities
  to fish are key priorities for recreational
  fishers.
• Many commercial harvesters are concerned about
  inter-sector allocation.

8
What else did we hear during consultations?

• Mixed views on implementing the JTG proposal for
  individual transferable quotas in the commercial
  salmon fishery.
• Some gear/area fleets want to manage their
  harvest shares based on their preferences and
  available management information.
• First Nations want to manage their harvest shares
  to address their specific community objectives.
• Effective fishery monitoring, catch reporting and
  enforcement programs are essential in all
  fisheries.
• Strong support for co-management in all its
  forms.

9
What are we doing in 2006?

• Groundfish integration implemented on a trial
  basis.
• Implementation of WSP is proceeding.
• Continuation of commercial demonstration
  fisheries to build on lessons learned in 2005
• Area F troll chinook ITQ
• Area H sockeye troll ITQ
• Continuation of First Nations demonstration
  fisheries to encourage inter-tribal collaboration
  and the development of sound management programs
• Skeena, Quesnel, Shuswap sockeye

10
Where are we going from here?

• Work is underway with established advisory
  committees and processes, and First Nations on
  fishery specific implementation
• All harvesting interests working on improvements
  to fishery monitoring, enforcement and catch
  reporting programs for the 2007 fishery.
• CSAB - inter-fleet allocation and allocation
  transfer mechanisms.
• Other industry and First Nations organizations
  are working on improving collaboration and
  economic viability.
• INAC/DFO options to provide for increased First
  Nations economic access based on voluntary
  license retirement.
• SFAB - vision for the recreational fishery.
• FSC access issues to be discussed further with
  First Nations.

11
What do we need from you?

• Advice on any elements missing from Pacific
  Fisheries Reform implementation.
• Advice on the particular elements of Pacific
  Fisheries Reform that should be emphasized or be
  given higher priority.
• Advice on the pace of reform slower, faster,
  just right?
• Your advice will complement and help to inform
  ongoing work with established advisory processes
  including the CSAB, the SFAB and First Nations.