B.C.T.F.A. NEWSLETTER #11 January 31, 2004 DEAR MEMBER, By now you should have received from D.F.O. a statement showing the recorded Albacore landings on your vessel. If you agree with their figures-great. You need not do anything. If you don’t, I have enclosed application forms so that you can obtain your fishing vessel landing records from Washington Oregon and California. Please note Washington and Oregon charge a fee in U.S. funds. California is free. Also, Oregon requests that the form be signed in the presence of a notary public. Their "Vessel Landing Records" application forms are also posted on our web site www.bctfa.com. On the home page click on the heading "latest news" and you will see a moving red arrow. I hope this will assist you in securing those misplaced records. CANADA / U.S. ALBACORE TREATY: As of today the U.S. senate has not ratified the new treaty! They are well aware of our position that is – if both countries are not in a position to implement new treaty by April 1 (drop dead date) than we will conduct 2004 fishery under existing treaty. Meetings are being scheduled during Feb and March between the two countries. The association will have representation in attendance at all meetings. The Western Fishboat Owners Association (WFOA) has invited me to their AGM March 25th to discuss future marketing, fish quality, how the BCTFA could possibly collect American Fishermen Research Foundation (AFRF) fees on BC landing and combined research projects of mutual benefit. CANADIAN HIGHLY MIGRATORY SPECIES FOUNDATION: (CHMSF) Lorne Clayton will be attending a meeting in California with AFRF on Feb 15th. Enclosed is an open letter from Lorne. Expect further discussion and a vote by all Albacore fishermen supporting this $20 levy. I wait the results of a poll to be taken. Speaking for myself, I support the proposed levy. It’s time we as Canadian fishermen put something back into our fishery. One cent a pound will to a long way to safe guarding our livelihoods. No one has missed the $100,000 plus U.S. dollars collected by AFRF on all Canadian landings each year for the last 20 plus years! It is time for some of those funds to be redirected back to our own CHMSF. MERCURY SCARES: Enclosed in this mail out is a example of one of the many rocks being thrown at us. Yet again the value of having the CHMSF to counter such. Please forward to me or the CHMSF all articles that attack our fishery. They must be addressed and the record set straight. Thanks to those of you who responded to our mercury-testing program. In the end, it is you who have helped all of us. TUNA ADVISORY BOARD: Lisa Mijacika will call a Tuna Advisory Board (TAB) meeting after everyone has had a "last chance" to update their Albacore landings, early to mid March is my best guess, before the next Bilateral round of meetings with the U.S. B.C.T. F.A. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: (A.G.M.) The associations AGM is on APRIL 24TH 2004 in Nanaimo B.C. Address: Bowen Complex 500 Bowen Rd. Time: 1030 Hrs. This is the "other" location NOT last years. The CHMSF AGM will be held at the same location and date. Much like the WFOA and AFRF organizations operate. It’s practical and economical seeing how our memberships over lap and both memberships share a common theme—Albacore Tuna. An official minimum two-week notification will be sent out to you as a reminder along with an agenda of the meetings. Directors who’s term of office ends are: Dave Keeling, Dave Wong, Dave Ratcliffe, Bob McIntosh, Stan Watterson, and John Koolman. Any member who desires to stand for director please notify me in writing before the AGM if you cannot attend the meeting. State that "if nominated –will stand for director position". Anyone in attendance can stand, nominate and vote if the member is in "Good Standing" (Dues Paid Up) BCTFA Membership Dues: The current regular membership dues level is $250.00 of which $25.00 is sent on your behalf to the CHMSF for their membership dues. All regular members of the BCTFA are automatically members of the CHMSF. Corporate membership dues are still $100.00. The treasurer of the association, Bruce Wight, is considering a reduction in dues for 2004. This will be one of the motions at the AGM to be voted on. But the association secretary, Linda Teague, requests members to please submit this years dues as soon as possible. Her workload between the AGM and the date we sail for fishing is very heavy. The minutes, membership updating, the yearly membership handbook drafted, printed, mailed out and web site up grades are held up by late paying members. That’s why some of you do not see yourself in the Handbook for the current year. Our by- laws state, dues must be received on or before that years AGM meeting but it would be greatly appreciated if you could pay the sooner the better. If the dues level is lowered you will be refunded or your account credited towards 05 dues, whichever way you wish. A FINAL NOTE: As soon as I hear of any developments in our fishery I will post on our web site, E-mail those of you who are in cyber space and snail mail the rest of you. Thank you for your patience, support, ideas and most of all input and valuable direction. Larry Teague BCTFA President