Fishing communities, harvesters and advocates in Canada are welcoming British Columbia’s intention to work with the federal government to reform the purchase system for fish licences and quotas for the province’s commercial fishing industry.
As part of the Coastal Marine Strategy unveiled last week, the province says it’s moving toward an owner-operator system for quota and licences. Under the new system, licence and quota holders would also need to be active fish harvesters — something advocacy groups and First Nations have been requesting for years.
The current individual transferable quotas system allows corporations and foreign investors with deep pockets to buy the right to catch fish for the highest price, making it increasingly difficult for individual harvesters, First Nations and generational fishing families to stay in the industry.
A transition to an owner-operator system would aim to eliminate the ability of a few giants to stake a majority claim on B.C.’s fishing grounds. One company alone, Jim Pattison’s Canfisco, owns double-digit percentages of some fish quotas, worth tens of millions of dollars.
An owner-operator system is not a novel concept in the country. Atlantic Canada has had one in place for years, and as a result, has lower costs compared to B.C.
B.C. Premier David Eby sent a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in May advocating for a policy change, as the decision to bring B.C. in line with the East Coast is ultimately in the hands of the federal government. However, there is no word yet on when B.C. fishers can expect a decision.
“The province stepping in and pressuring the federal government for change is incredibly impactful,” wrote James Lawson, president of the United Fisherman and Allied Workers Union in a statement.