Pacific Salmon Commercial Licence Retirement Program

The Pacific Salmon Commercial Licence Retirement Program was a voluntary program supported by Phase 1 of the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative. It allowed commercial Pacific salmon licence eligibility holders in British Columbia (B.C.) and Yukon to retire their licence eligibilities permanently through reverse auction.

Declining Pacific salmon returns have made economic viability in the commercial Pacific salmon industry a significant challenge in recent years. In addition to providing an opportunity for commercial salmon licence holders to exit the industry, the program supported the transition of the fisheries to a smaller commercial harvesting sector that is better aligned with available fishing opportunities and is geared to improve their long-term sustainability and financial viability.

This program was informed by, and built on, a comprehensive series of consultations and engagement sessions with commercial and First Nations harvesters.

Results

A total of 576 commercial Pacific salmon licence eligibilities were permanently retired between 2022 and 2026, representing an approximate 43% decrease in the number of licences across B.C. and Yukon. This reduction advances the transition to a smaller commercial harvesting sector that supports the long-term economic viability of the fishery and is better aligned with available fishing opportunities.

Successful participants were also able to apply for support to dispose of their retired fishing vessels and fishing gear through the Derelict Vessel and Gear Disposal Program which supported fishers who were exiting the commercial Pacific salmon harvesting sector by providing accessible disposal options that addressed environmental risks before contaminants and ghost gear potentially could enter sensitive marine environments. Between 2022 and 2026, 31 vessels and 695,000 kilograms of fishing gear were disposed of responsibly.

Related links

• Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative