Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans

Comité permanent des pêches et des océans

For immediate release

Ottawa, May 07, 2019 -

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans today presented, to the House of Commons, a report calling on Fisheries and Oceans Canada to facilitate a transition toward a more equitable quota licencing regime for the West Coast commercial fisheries.

The Committee believes that the West Coast commercial fisheries fall short and lag the East Coast’s and some of the world’s fisheries in how they benefit active fishers and their coastal communities. “The vitality of a fishery should be examined by looking at its economic and community benefits as well as its ecological health,” said Committee Chair, Ken McDonald. The Committee is convinced that a successful transition toward a more equitable quota licencing regime must be “made-in-British Columbia” and supported by all participants, including vessel/licence owners, active fish harvesters, processors, and First Nation and non-First Nation coastal communities.

The report was adopted unanimously and contains 20 recommendations including:

• The establishment of an independent commission to determine steps required for a transition toward a quota licence regime that will ensure a better sharing of risks and benefits in the West Coast commercial fisheries;

• Transition strategies considering recommendations, needs, rights and capacities of First Nations and the framework for reconciliation;

• Reform to advisory boards established by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to ensure an equitable representation by active fishers, processors and quota owners; and

• The creation of a public online database that will provide information on quota licence ownership and transactions.

Chaired by Mr. Ken McDonald (Avalon), the Committee comprises: Liberals Colin Fraser (West Nova), Pat Finnigan (Miramichi — Grand Lake), Ken Hardie (Fleetwood — Port Kells), Robert Morrissey (Egmont) and Churence Rogers (Bonavista — Burin — Trinity); Conservatives Blaine Calkins (Red Deer — Lacombe), Todd Doherty (Cariboo — Prince George) and Mel Arnold (North Okanagan — Shuswap); and from the New Democratic Party, Gord Johns (Courtenay — Alberni).