August 24, 2010
The following PEI LFA 26A Lobster Sustainability Plan proposal has been submitted to the Minister of Fisheries & Oceans as well as the Dept of Fisheries & Oceans.
LFA 26A Lobster Sustainability Measures Proposal
It is worthy to note that the advisory committee members researched this topic at great length and considered every idea and concept imaginable. They looked at the various issues from all sides and argued intently on the effects on their fellow fishermen. This energy proved valuable when their fellow fishers challenged the various ideas.
This document is the culmination of a series of 18 advisory committee meetings, three public meetings and a forum to vote for or against the plan.
The vote was held in
Out of the 408 fishermen, a total of 236 voted.
The results were as follows:
176 votes for “yes” to support the plan
60 votes for “No” not to support the plan and
1 spoiled ballot.
The following represents to culmination of this advisory process. The principles for the process were simple and clear:
· All information was to be shared with the fishermen
· All ideas were to be considered
· There had to be minimum impact on the finances of fishermen who were already overtaxed financially.
· The fishermen were to have the final say through a vote to support or reject the plan.
This brings us to the point where we will outline our plan. This outline is a starting point for discussions with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. From here we expect to formulate a final plan which again will be shared with LFA 26A fishermen.
This plan has the support of the commercial lobster fishermen of LFA 26A, the Mi’kmaq Confedercy representing both the Lennox Island Band and the Abegweit Band, as well as the Native Council of PEI.
Element one:
Item 1:
The first element deals with carapace size increase.
While not all fishermen agree, it is DFO’s position that the fishery must reach a carapace size which allows for 50% of the females to spawn at least once. They claim that this occurs at 72 mm and that DFO would be satisfied at this size.
An argument could be put forward that we have recovered from massive recessions in the past. Our recovery from the 1974 collapse shows the weakness of the DFO argument.
In order to demonstrate their interest and concern in the recovery of the lobster stocks, fishermen have supported a carapace increase to a maximum size of 72 mm with the following provisos:
1. that the upper maximum carapace size be stopped at 72 mm,
2. that DFO give stability to these measures by not increasing the carapace size for at least 15 years,
3. that there be only one escape panel increase in size in 2014, and
4. that the carapace size be increased by 0.5 mm per year for four years beginning in 2011 and ending in 2014.
Item 2:
Licence retirement/ trap reduction:
LFA 26A fishermen are proposing an equally shared lobster licence/ trap reduction program.
Fishermen see the advantage of reducing fishing effort in the lobster fishery. This would hopefully translate into higher returns for those who are left and reduce the glut of lobsters in May.
The fishermen propose the following:
Reduction of their fleet size in an equal partnership with Fisheries and Oceans who would fund a lobster buyback licence retirement program. With fishermen paying for their share with reduced effort, this will ensure both the public funds and private donation would be equal and both sides would contribute to the process.
We are proposing a total of 25% fleet reduction which is the standard set by Fisheries and Oceans.
To achieve this target, this would require that Fisheries and Oceans would purchase approx. 50 licences @ $200,000 each costing $10,000,000 plus $250,000 administration fee. In support of this effort, fishermen would reduce their fleets by 12 traps per year for three years with a total reduction of 36 traps per fleet. This equals, in value, the contribution made by DFO.
It should be noted that fishermen had suggested a larger reduction in 2007. They would have reduced their fleet by 33%. The shame of this effort was that Fisheries and Oceans did not even acknowledge receipt of the LFA 26A plan.
The final number of licence purchases, if not fully funded by DFO, will be reduced accordingly by fishermen. If for example DFO only funds 50% of the proposed budget, than fishers will reduce their fleets accordingly. In this example, they would only reduce their fleet by 18 traps over the scheduled time.
The message to Fisheries and Oceans is that fishermen have come to the table with a viable program to reduce fishing effort. Fisheries and Oceans will decide with their contribution, how effective that effort will be on the industry.
In this program, fishermen organizations will operate the process and be guided by DFO requirements.
So no doubt exists around this proposal, fishermen in LFA 26A would allow fishers to transfer their other licences and retire only the lobster licence with the Core status dying with the retirement of the lobster licence. The fishermen would than dispose of any boat and gear at his pleasure.
Item 3:
Window sized lobster:
The program proposes that the window lobster program remain as is. That is the status quo be maintained.
While Fisheries and Oceans maintains that the eggs of these larger lobsters are more viable, there is little support in the industry for this theory.
We would like further discussions on this topic.
Item 4:
With the reduction in lobster licences and traps per fishing fleet, we propose that the fishing licence cost be reduced to $100.00 per year for a lobster licence. This would be in keeping with efforts in other areas where effort was reduced.
Element two:
Item 1:
Electronic reporting:
LFA 26A fishers support the concept of electronic reporting. With delays of two years in compiling landings is unacceptable. Fishermen support the installation and operation of electronic reporting equipment at buyers sites. Fishermen do this on a number of provisos:
1. that the purchase and operation of the systems and hardware does not translate into a cost for fishers. Processors and DFO have absorbed these costs in the past and the fishermen cannot afford any increase in their operating expenses.
2. That dockside monitoring is not a part of this package. Fishermen are not convinced that dockside monitoring is cost effective. They constantly see flaws in the existing system and cannot afford adding to the operating costs.
3. That all the privacy act requirements are adhered to in the setup and implementation of this process.
Element three:
Item 1:
The advisory committee have been given the authority to discuss and agree on elements relating to biodegradable traps and escape panels. Discussions to take place.
Item 2:
Support more fishery officers and an auxiliary fisheries officers force.
Item 3:
Support more field science in cooperation with fishermen. We recognize the value of science and we feel that the federal government should put more effort into securing good sound information in cooperation with fishermen.
Item 4:
Fishermen in LFA 26A want to see changes in their industry to improve lobster quality thus resulting in more opportunity to secure higher returns. We are suggesting a lobster handling and storage program by the federal government. This program would provide financial assistance for on-board holding facilities and training for fishers. In addition, an on-shore holding facilities program is required.
These two thrusts will see fishermen, processors and government working together to crease the opportunity to realize higher returns from the industry.
Item 5: Support to expand scallop buffer zones in the
Special Item:
The Abegweit First Nation has been consolidating their communal Commercial Fishing efforts and have presented a proposal to the LFA 26A Advisory Committee.
The proposal entails the following:
The Abegweit Band wishes to take their two communal commercial licences in LFA 26A, fished from
The fishermen reviewed their proposal and discussed the rationale and transparent manner in which the First Nation approached this issue. As a result, the proposal was unanimously endorsed and the LFA 26A fishermen make this request part of their sustainability measures and encourages the Minister to approve this measure in the spirit of cooperation and conservation
Attached is the DFO Matrix handed out in the first portion of this program effort.
Telephone: (902) 566-4050
Fax: 902-368-3748
Follow us
Instagram:
@peifishassoc
Facebook:
@princeedwardislandfishassoc