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Halibut Experimental Recreational Fishery
Program Details Presentation

Draft as of June 1, 2011

[PDF version]

Outline

Note

  • Please note that the content of this presentation may be changed or updated as more information becomes available

Overview

  • An experimental recreational fishery program will test the management measures and monitoring requirements of a market-based transfer mechanism
  • Purpose of this presentation is to provide the details available to date on the experimental program

Minister's Statement on Experimental Fishery

  • For the 2011 season only, we will undertake a trial to make available to interested recreational stakeholders experimental licences that will allow them to lease halibut quota from quota holders.
  • This will provide access to halibut beyond the limits of the standard recreational licence, giving those who choose to participate greater opportunity and improved stability for business planning purposes.
  • Need to meet the following objectives:
    • Conservation of the resource through enhanced monitoring of the recreational fishery, thereby keeping all halibut fisheries accountable for maintaining catches within the total allowable catch
    • Economic prosperity through predictable access for all users
    • Flexibility through an effective mechanism for transfers between the sectors
  • http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/statement-declarations/2011/20110215-eng.htm

First Nations Access

  • First Nations food, social and ceremonial access to the halibut resource is determined prior to the application of commercial and recreational allocations

How to get started...

  1. Fill in the expression of interest (EOI)
    • Available online http://www-comm.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/form/fm-gp/halibut-fletan/eoi-edi-eng.htm
    • Submit via online form, fax, email or mail
    • The EOI will allow the Department to get a sense of the scale of the experimental fishery, the location of participants, the amount of quota required and the time of year fishing will occur
    • The Department will follow up with those named on the EOI to start the process for licence issuance

  2. Experimental Licence Issuance
    • A formal application of licence is sent to the requestor which requires a signature
    • No fee, party-based licence (licence is associated with an individual or company rather than a vessel)
    • Once the signed application is received, DFO will create an experimental licence within DFO system
    • The licence and conditions are provided to the licence applicant, and apply to the applicant, vessel master(s) and client(s) of the licence applicant
    • Groundfish Management Unit (GMU) will send a hardcopy logbook to the licence holder

  3. Licence holder submits a temporary Request for Reallocation of Quota
    • An arrangement between the experimental licence holder and a commercial licence holder or broker is made through a market-based mechanism
    • Once the licence has been issued a request for temporary reallocation is submitted to the GMU
    • This reallocation request will detail from which licence the quota is coming from and to which licence it is being transferred to (authorizing signatures are required for the licence it is coming from)
    • The GMU processes the reallocation and once the fish has been transferred to the experimental licence a new amendment to the conditions is created that indicates, in pounds, the amount of halibut that has been acquired by that licence
    • Once you have an amendment with quota, fishing can begin

Management Measures

  • Who can apply for a licence?
    • Individual recreational harvesters
    • Lodges, charters, guides
    • Marinas
    • Others
  • Non-residents are not eligible to hold an experimental licence, but may fish under the authority of a licence held by a lodge, charter, guide, marina, etc.
  • If a business entity applies for a licence, only one licence is required per business
  • A copy of the conditions of licence, including a current licence amendment with an original signature by the licence applicant, must be on the person of every individual fishing under the authority of the licence.
  • Guides (“Vessel Masters”) will be named on the amendment

  • When does the experimental recreational fishery start?
    • Licence issuance based on expressions of interest received will commence in May
    • The experimental recreational halibut fishery will commence as early as June 1 up to December 31

  • What does this licence allow you to do?
    • Allows you to fish concurrently with your regular tidal water sport fishing licence to retain in excess of 1 halibut a day, 2 in possession
    • Allows you to continue to fish (until December 31st) even if the standard recreational fishery has closed

  • What does this licence NOT allow you to do?
    • Not permitted to sell the fish caught under the experimental fishery
    • Not permitted to permanently acquire halibut quota (i.e. hold quota after January 31) during the pilot period
    • Does not permit the retention of non-halibut species

  • What are the rules with respect to quota limits and transfers?
    • A licence must have more than 0 pounds to commence fishing
    • No maximum
    • The minimum pounds permitted to be transferred is 1 pound
    • Quota may be transferred from:
      • Commercial/communal-commercial groundfish licence to an experimental recreational licence
      • Experimental recreational licence to an experimental recreational licence
      • Experimental recreational licence back to a commercial/communal-commercial groundfish licence
    • Each time a transfer occurs an updated amendment is provided to the licence holder with the amended quantities of quota, these updated amendments should be provided to the vessels operating under the authority of your licence

  • What happens if I catch more fish on a trip than I have quota for?
    • The reconciliation of quota can occur anytime throughout the year. The licence must be reconciled by January 31, 2012. Reconciliation means ensuring catch equals the quota on the licence.

  • What happens at the end of the year?
    • If the licence applicant, vessel master(s) or client(s) of the licence applicant have caught in excess of the quota the licence applicant has until January 31, 2012 to reconcile the licence
    • If the licence applicant has quota in excess of catch the licence applicant has until January 31, 2012 to release the remainder back to a commercial groundfish licence holder or to a recreational experimental licence applicant who may need quota to reconcile their catch
    • The licence applicant is responsible for the catch and quota on his/her licence
    • No overage/underage provision is provided given the 1 year nature of the pilot

Conditions of Licence

  • What are the conditions of licence?
    • Details the amount of quota available on your licence
    • The areas permitted to be fished
    • Fishing gear permitted to be used
    • The persons permitted to harvest fish under the authority of the licence
      • The licence may be issued to a business entity however the conditions will permit the harvest of fish by those onboard the authorized vessel(s)
    • Records that vessel master shall keep
      • Mandatory logbook submission
    • Timeframe within which catch records must be submitted
    • Disclosure of catch to DFO officials or designate when asked (this is to address the possible testing of DMP)

Monitoring Requirements

  • For year 1, the monitoring requirement will be mandatory electronic submission of a logbook
  • The current recreational logbook has been amended to allow for records of quota halibut to be included (requires either a weight and length for each fish retained)
  • Logbooks will be distributed by the GMU once the signed application for licence has been received
  • A desktop application, which will be available via the internet, will allow participants to electronically enter the logbook data (for all catch) and export to DFO
  • This electronic submission will be required by the Sunday of each week during which fishing has occurred
  • Hard copy logbooks must be submitted to DFO at the end of the fishing season. All logbooks must be received by January 31, 2012
  • There may be an opportunity to test additional monitoring strategies, these could include:
    • Hails (electronic or via phone)
    • Random dockside monitoring/audit program
    • On the water monitoring

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do I need a regular tidal water recreational licence as well?
    • Yes. The regular tidal water recreational licence will allow for the retention of nonhalibut species as well as the maximum 2 possession of halibut within the standard recreational fishery

  • Can I catch all my quota in one day?
    • Yes and if you catch in excess of your quota, reconciliation can occur throughout the fishing season. Final reconciliation must occur by January 31, 2012

  • What happens if I am stopped by an enforcement officer on the water?
    • If you are in possession of more than 2 halibut on the water, you must have proof of participation in the experimental recreational halibut fishery
    • This "proof" will be the licence amendment with original signature by the licence applicant.

  • What do I give my clients to show they are permitted to transport more than 2 halibut?
    • Anyone transporting fish caught under the authority of this licence must be provided with a transport slip by the licence applicant. The transport slip must details the number of fish and weight of fish being transported. A template transport slip will be made available to licence applicants.

  • Can I catch my halibut (1 per day, 2 in possession) under the standard recreational fishery and then more under the quota fishery?
    • Yes. Halibut caught first (up to 1 per day, 2 in possession) will count against the regular tidal water recreational licence. Any halibut in excess would be attributed to the experimental recreational halibut licence.

  • Do I have to physically differentiate between the halibut from the standard recreational fishery and the experimental recreational halibut fishery?
    • No. However, all catch must be accurately reported in your logbook. Within the logbook there will be a section for you to record your 2 halibut caught under the standard recreational fishery and then a section for all additional halibut that is quota applicable to be recorded.

  • How do I find quota?
  • As more information becomes available this will be updated

  • Why would any recreational harvester want to participate in this program?
    • The Department has received feedback from recreational harvesters that the current opportunity for recreational halibut fishing (1 halibut a day, 2 in possession) and a possible early closure once the total allowable catch has been achieved is not sufficient for recreational harvesters and does not provide stability/certainty
    • This experimental program provides an opportunity for those recreational harvesters who would like to retain more than 1 halibut a day, 2 in possession to do so
    • In addition, the program allows for certainty to be achieved with respect to the ability to fish until December 31st irrespective of the harvest within the standard recreational fishery

Contact Information

  • If you have questions regarding the content of this presentation please contact:
Date Modified: 2011-10-21

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