Whereas BCs wild commercial fishery contributes 800 million dollars in wholesale value to the Provincial economy, of which 400 million dollars is in landed value paid to fishermen when the fish is landed; And whereas rural coastal communities benefit from the portion of the landed value paid to fishermen who reside in our communities and we benefit from wages paid to shoreworkers if there are processing plants in our community; And whereas the federal Fisheries Act has been reopened to help ensure that the economic benefits of fishing remain with the licence holders and their community by providing amendments to the Fisheries Act that would help support a strong independent inshore commercial fishery in Atlantic Canada and Quebec; And whereas the amended Fisheries Act would recognize that when making decisions under the Act, the Minister can take into account: - social, economic and cultural factors - the preservation and promotion of an independent inshore commercial fishery as in Atlantic Canada and Quebec The proposed Act would clarify that regulations can be made to enshrine aspects of the inshore fisheries policies in regulations, including rules that: - help ensure that the holder of a licence retains the benefits generated by fishing, - ensure that only the licence holder personally fishes using that licence, - support the Fleet Separation Policy by prohibiting certain types of corporations from holding licenses in the inshore sector, - allow the suspension or cancellation of licences where licence holders are party to an agreement that violates any part of the Act or regulations. These proposed changes to the Fisheries Act would: - protect middle-class jobs and coastal communities by helping to keep the benefits from fishing in the hands of the harvesters and local communities, - strengthen the implementation of the owner-operator and fleet separation policies; And whereas these changes to the Fisheries Act would protect middle-class jobs and coastal communities by keeping the benefits from fishing in the hands of harvesters and local communities only apply to Atlantic Canada and Quebec; And whereas, federal fisheries policies in the Pacific Region are to continue to privatize the fisheries, which lowers the retained value to working fishermen as they have to pay quota lease fees to investors, who are increasingly becoming foreign countries and our communities are not realizing the benefits as are Atlantic communities: Therefore be it resolved that the UBCM urge the Provincial Ministry of Agriculture to work with the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans on a fulsome coordinated review of fishing policy on the BC Coast; And be it further resolved that the Province work with the federal government on the implementation of a regulatory framework that would incorporate the principles of fleet separation, owner-operation, and adjacency; And be it further resolved that the changes to the Fisheries Act and Fisheries Regulations apply to the Pacific Coast so our working fishers and BC coastal communities benefit from the fisheries.
Ministry of Agriculture Commercial fisheries and their contribution to the Provincial economy are of great importance to B.C., providing significant economic and social benefits across the Province. Government recognises the importance of reviewing fisheries policies from time to time and continues to work with all involved agencies on processes to relook at policies and recommend any required changes. One of the Ministry of Agricultures goals is to ensure sustainable and resilient fisheries resources in order to meet cultural, environmental, social and economic interests for current and future generations. Provincial staff work across agencies internally to find solutions to fisheries management issues. B.C. has established the Wild Salmon Advisory Council, which is a part of a broader provincial Wild Salmon Strategy. A key part of the strategy will be looking at the provincial role in finding new economic opportunities to assist viable and sustainable community-based fisheries. Policies affecting fisheries licensing and management are being reviewed through existing consultative channels including stakeholder committees, where First Nations and all relevant processors and stakeholders, including coastal communities, can engage. B.C. and other Provinces and Territories are also engaging with Fisheries and Oceans Canada DFO regarding the amendments to the federal Fisheries Act through the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers and the Fisheries Act Review Task Group. The Province has consistently relayed the expectation of extensive stakeholder consultation in the Pacific when analysing any potential implementation of socio-economic and Atlantic fisheries management policies to the Pacific Region. Government will continue to work through all channels to ensure that fisheries management policies result in socioeconomic benefits for the people and communities of British Columbia.
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans As announced in February 2018, the Government of Canada is taking action to preserve the independence of the inshore licence holders in Atlantic Canada and Quebec. To do this, we are proposing changes to the Atlantic Fishery Regulations to include elements of certain key policies supporting the inshore fishery such Owner-Operator and Fleet Separation. The proposed amendments are part of the Government of Canadas commitment to an economically-viable inshore fishery that benefits coastal communities in Atlantic Canada and Quebec. The intention is to maintain the existing scope of application of these policies in Atlantic Canada and Quebec. The Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans is planning to undertake a study of fisheries policies applicable to the west coast of Canada, which could inform future regulatory and policy work for Pacific fisheries.