Crab sectoral committee terms of reference

Mandate

The Crab Sectoral Committee provides a forum for the exchange of information and views between stakeholders and Fisheries & Oceans Canada on issues important to the management of the fishery. The Sectoral Committee is not a voting body; the intent is for Fisheries & Oceans to receive a broad range of advice from stakeholders. Fisheries & Oceans, however, remains the decision making authority to ensure conservation requirements are met.

The Sectoral Committee has the following goals:

• Allow the exchange of information between the clients and Fisheries & Oceans.
• Advise on the development of annual Management Plans for the fishery.
• Advise on the development of long-term management strategies for the fishery.
• Provide information and advice regarding stock assessment and biological research for the fishery.
• Advise the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans on the use of discretionary penalties against harvesters caught violating the rules and regulations of the fishery.
• Recommend representatives to other advisory bodies, as required.

Organization

• Advisors will be selected to represent the following stakeholders and will be responsible for keeping their constituents informed.



Licence holders	7 advisors, one per licence area, selected to represent current licence holders
Processors	2 advisors, selected to represent active buyers and processors
Aboriginals	1 or more advisors, selected to represent aboriginal interests
Recreational	1 advisor, selected to represent recreational fishing interests
Other representatives	1 advisor, if necessary, selected to represent other significant interests in the fishery (e.g., parks, aquaculture, crew)

• Licence holder representatives will be selected either by a vote conducted by Fisheries & Oceans of the licence holders of record or by organizations representing the licence holders. Fisheries & Oceans may appoint additional advisors to ensure representation from all geographic areas and gear groups.
• Processors will be selected by Fisheries & Oceans in consultation with licence holder representatives to represent all active buyers and processors in the fishery.
• Seats are provided to First Nations so operational concerns regarding the management plan may be brought to the Committee. Minutes of the meetings and draft management plans will be made available to First Nations through the Aboriginal Fisheries staff.
• A seat is provided to Recreational fishers so operational concerns regarding the management plan may be brought to the Committee. Minutes of the meetings and draft management plans will be made available to Recreational fishers through the Recreational Fisheries staff.
• Advisors will be elected or appointed for a three year term. Licence holders may select another current advisor to represent them during the three years. Advisors will not be added unless the Committee provides unanimous consent.
• Each advisor will identify an alternate, who may attend all meetings but only participate if the advisor is absent.
• The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and, if necessary, other Ministries, will represent the Province of B.C. on the Committee.
• Fisheries & Oceans Canada will chair the Committee meetings. Other Fisheries & Oceans staff will attend as appropriate.
• The Committee can invite other people to participate when appropriate.

Procedures

• Minutes of all meetings will be taken. They will be distributed to all advisors for approval, then made available to the public.
• Committee recommendations will only be made with the agreement of all advisors. When complete agreement cannot be reached, all consenting and dissenting opinions will be recorded in the minutes.
• Sectoral Committee meetings can be attended by observers, subject to prior approval by the chairperson. These observers cannot participate in the meeting unless approved by the chairperson.
• The chairperson can appoint subcommittees to report on specific tasks. The subcommittee will require clear objectives, members identified (including the chairperson), and set deadlines.
• There must be at least one meeting a year to consider the annual management plan. The chairperson can call other meetings as required. The chairperson will prepare an agenda and circulate it to all advisors before the meeting.
• The Sectoral Committee will consider developing a code of conduct that, if violated, provided the basis for dismissal.