A PRESENTATION TO

 THE

 FISHERIES RESOURCE CONSERVATION COUNCIL

 

BY

 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND FISHERMEN’S ASSOCIATION

 

APRIL 6, 2010

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

            At the March 2010 meeting the members of the Gulf Groundfish Advisory Committee were unanimous in their agreement on the following:

 

• Grey seals have had a tremendous impact leading to the decline (post moratorium) and lack of recovery of major groundfish stocks in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. There was also consensus that the increased presence of parasites in the flesh of fish has become a huge problem, affecting processing, growth and vitality.
• High mortality caused by Grey Seals is not only undermining efforts at rebuilding groundfish stocks, but it is leading to the imminent commercial extinction of several other stocks, particularly cod.
• Grey Seals are now also having a negative impact on other species such as lobster, herring, mackerel, salmon, etc.
• While senior DFO management has been advised of industry’s concerns over Grey Seals for some time, no concrete action has yet been taken or announced to reduce the Grey Seal population in the Gulf or Atlantic.
• To have any chance at rebuilding groundfish stocks, immediate action is needed to significantly reduce mortality inflicted by Grey Seals. Survival of many coastal communities is at stake.
• The GGAC is of the opinion that current consultations by the Fisheries Research Conservation Council should be cancelled. Waiting for a report by the FRCC would only further delay any immediate action that should be taken to deal with the Grey Seal issue.

 

The PEIFA, as an industry member of the Gulf Groundfish Advisory Committee,

stands in solidarity with its colleagues in urging that immediate and effective steps be taken to reduce Grey seal predation of groundfish stocks in the sGSL before any further resource management issues be recommended by the FRCC or Fisheries and Oceans.

 

            While this is the formal position of the PEIFA, there are a number of issues we would bring to the attention of the Council for its consideration once such action is taken to reduce Grey Seal predation.

 

 

Halibut:

 

            First, is a review of halibut allocations. In 2008, then-minister Hearn divided the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) into regional shares, citing the three Maritime Provinces as a single region. The share allocated to 837 license holders in PEI under this formula, including a portion of a mobile gear allocation, was a mere 18.5 m.t. At the same time, some 890 license holders in Quebec were allocated 57% of the TAC – certainly an

inequity in anyone’s mind.

 

            We were pleased to hear the recent announcement from the federal minister that reconciliation would be in place for overruns in the halibut fishery beginning this year. In the past three years, overruns by Newfoundland and New Brunswick fleets alone were

equivalent to 18 years of established PEI quota.

 

            In our view, placing emphasis seemingly on history alone ignores much of the circumstances leading to historically low landings by the PEI fleet – a later season here, quota caught by other fleets early, shut down of the PEI halibut fishery, etc. We would urge the Council to take into consideration a number of principles when recommending share divisions to the various fleets. These are history, adjacency, equity, viability and ability. Emphasis should also be placed upon the greater number of fixed gear license holders. If these principles are truly adopted, we feel the PEI allocation would be enhanced appropriately.

 

            There is anecdotal evidence that the size of halibut in the sGSL is, in fact, smaller than in more northerly areas. Discussions have been underway regarding a possible increase in the legal size of halibut for the commercial fishery. To our knowledge, no scientific studies on the size of maturation of halibut in the sGSL have been conducted. We would urge the Council to recommend such studies prior to any implementation of a size increase and take into consideration possible effects on quota allocation if it is determined that halibut in this area mature at a smaller size than elsewhere.

 

 

Cod:

 

            With the sGSL cod fishery presently in moratorium and without a formal assessment of 4-t cod stocks this year, we fully expect a rollover of a minimal 300 m.t. allocation to science, first nations, by-catch and the recreational fishery. However, if and when the moratorium is lifted, a proper and appropriate method of establishing new fleet quotas in the sGSL must be adopted. Based upon science and utilizing the above-mentioned principles, the PEIFA looks forward to being full participants in arriving at fleet shares when stocks improve.

 

 

Conservation and Protection:

 

            Many groundfish species are not being properly protected from poaching. Both local residents and visitors are taking advantage of what is left of the cod stocks, but

more particularly, the more valuable and lucrative halibut stock. We urge the Council to strongly recommend increased C&P patrolling of PEI waters, especially in the months of July, August and September. Further, recommendations to encourage the justice system to deliver harsher sentencing to convicted violators of fishery regulations would be welcomed.

 

 

Sentinel Fishery:

 

            We would ask the Council to recommend continuance of the Sentinel Fishery in this area. Precise scientific information is required to continue a consistent data collection system on groundfish and, particularly, cod stocks. This is crucial to the future of the sGSL groundfish fishery.

 

 

            In closing, the PEIFA and the PEIFA Groundfish Advisory Committee thank you for this opportunity. We remind the Council, however, of our initial points regarding the immediate need for action to be taken to decrease Grey Seal predation of our groundfish stocks. This must be the first issue addressed before any genuine improvements in this fishery can be made.

 

            Thank you.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Ed Frenette,

Executive Director,

PEIFA.

 

           

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