The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has different opinions with other sector over issues such as harvest rates have been lending themselves to a newly brewing storm for the commercial fishing industry. Greg Knox, Executive Director of SkeenaWild Conservation Trust, outlines three recommendations regarding commercial fishing, notably the need to implement short set/short net practice before the pre-established August 1 date and a request to limit the harvest rate to a maximum of 30 percent, both suggestions infuriating the commercial industry.
According to Joy Thorkelson on behalf of the UFAWU-CAW, the fishermen are frustrated for two reasons: because their conditions of license say they don’t have to go to short sets until August 1 and yet they’re being made to do it a week early. And secondly, because DFO is not living up to science. They’re caving to the pressure of back-door lobbyists and making it impossible to take advantage of the better than expected run.
Thorkelson explained by emphasizing the Skeena Independent Science Panel Report that when there is a large number of boats, the sports sector complains about the fleet size; when the fleet size is small they complain about the number of days fished. Fishing short sets/short nets is highly inefficient so we will have to be out there more days and it’s a real concern that we will not be reaching our allotment.
