| Misleading at best (halibut allocation) - Feb 16/11 |
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Courier-Islander There was something that seemed somewhat misleading in Fisheries Minister Gail Shea's announcement on the halibut allocation for the 2011 fishing season. In it she said, "The most recent round of discussions took place throughout 2010. I'm disappointed to report that those discussions have reached an impasse and stakeholders have been unable to reach a consensus. Because of this, a ministerial decision is required to move forward for the 2011 season." This would imply that had the stakeholders came up with an agreeable compromise that her ministry would have followed through and made it so. We can hardly believe that or, perhaps we could, since it seems DFO has tried to divide and conquer the various sectors over this issue for years. The good news is that there will be a fishery for halibut, the bad news it that it comes so late. One of DFO's decisions around the allocation is that the recreation sector will have a chance to lease quota with experimental licences from the commercial sector. Few details are available around these licences or what they will cost and we have to wonder if the average Canadian will be able to afford or be given the opportunity to lease more halibut quota. In this DFO seems to have once again tread upon the rights of the average Canadian and awarded a common property resource to private interests. |
