Dear BCTFA members,
Yesterday Canada signed onto the World Animal Protection’s Global Ghost Gear Initiative as the 13th nation to combat plastic marine debris.
First Fully Farmed Bluefin Tuna Ready for Export Outside of Japan
Since 2015 fully farmed bluefin tuna has been sold within Japan, but the company Maruha Nichiro will now begin to export of bluefin tuna raised from eggs to export markets.
Link to article:
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Japan-s-Maruha-Nichiro-to-export-fully-farmed-tuna
Scott Islands Marine National Wildlife Area Announcement
Minister Wilkinson announced the establishment of the Scott Island marine National Wildlife Area on behalf of Minister Mckenna this week.
There should be no changes to the tuna fishery in this area but BCTFA will continue to monitor this process and keep its members informed.
Please see the original message forwarded by acting tuna manager Meghan Chen:
“As announced on Sept 13th by Minister Wilkinson on behalf of Minister McKenna, the Scott Islands marine National Wildlife Area (mNWA) has been established as the first marine area under the Canada Wildlife Act. Off the northwestern tip of Vancouver Island, the Scott Islands mNWA has the conservation objective to conserve migratory seabirds, species at risk, and the habitats, ecosystem linkages and marine resources that support these species.
Fisheries in the area will continue to be managed by DFO under the Fisheries Act. To further support conservation objectives in the area, DFO intends to make regulations pursuant to the Fisheries Act for the management of fisheries within the mNWA, as notified in Canada Gazette, Part I on June 30, 2018. The proposed regulation will prohibit fishing for Pacific sand lance, Pacific saury and North Pacific krill; prohibit groundfish bottom trawling within portions of the area consistent with the existing trawl footprint, and could restrict other fishing activities that would be deemed, based on best available science, to pose a risk to the Scott Islands conservation objectives. DFO intends to prepublish the proposed regulations in Canada Gazette, Part I, within two calendar years for public comment.
We will be discussing next steps for the development of this new regulation and will be engaging Indigenous groups, the Scott Islands Advisory Group and DFO's fisheries advisory boards.
If you have any immediate questions on this, please contact Amy Mar at 604 666 1090 or Aleria Ladwig at 604 363 1325.
Further information is available at the links below:
Scott Islands announcement:
Notice of intent with respect to fisheries management in the Scott Islands, page 2670: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2018/gazette/SP2-1-152-26.pdf
Scott Islands Establishment Order - Http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2018/2018-06-27/html/si-tr44-eng.html
Scott Islands Regulations - http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2018/2018-06-27/html/sor-dors119-eng.html”
Arctic Surf Clam Breaking News
Following the creation, allocation then reversal of a new licence to fish Arctic surf clams on the East Coast to the Five Nations group, new details have come to light. Please see the articles below for more information.
Link to global news article: https://globalnews.ca/news/4442951/dominic-leblanc-surf-clam-license-conflict-of-interest/
Dominic LeBlanc broke conflict of interest rules by approving lucrative surf clam license to wife’s cousin
By Amanda Connolly National Online Journalist Global News
Dominic LeBlanc attends a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick
Former fisheries minister Dominic LeBlanc broke conflict of interest rules earlier this year by awarding a lucrative license to fish for Arctic surf clams to a company that was set to be run by his wife’s cousin.
In a ruling issued Wednesday morning, Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion said the plan to award the contract violated the section of the Conflict of Interest Act that bars public office holders from making decisions that would place them in a conflict as well as the section requiring officials to recuse themselves from such matters.
READ MORE: New fisheries minister explains reversal on controversial surf clam licence
“A first cousin of Mr. LeBlanc’s spouse, Mr. Gilles Thériault, could have benefitted financially from an Arctic surf clam licence being awarded to the Five Nations Clam Company,” Dion said. “Mr. Thériault would have served as the company’s general manager if the process to grant it the licence had been completed.”
Dion said that the decision by LeBlanc to pursue issuing the license — which was announced in February 2018 — “provided an opportunity to further Mr. Thériault’s private interests.”
Link to globe article: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-globe-editorial-a-trudeau-government-clam-contract-that-still-smells/
Proactive Vessel Management Initiative
Dear BCTFA members,
As part of the Oceans Protection Plan, Transport Canada is opening up the Proactive Vessel Management Initiative for comments from stakeholders. Please find the discussion paper attached and send in any comments you may have on the subject.
Website: https://letstalktransportation.ca/proactive-vessel-management
Discussion Paper: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/proactive-vessel-management-discussion-paper.html
It is important Transport Canada hears from fishermen/women on this matter, please take a moment to consider sending in your comments.
Kind regards,
Tiare
This Is Your Brain on Fish Thicker, stronger, and more resilient. Once a week is all it takes, new research says.
Recent study finds eating fish—baked or broiled, never fried—is associated with larger gray matter volumes in brain areas responsible for memory and cognition in healthy elderly people.
Type of fish is not important but the frequency, once a week, is key for ‘brain thickening’ effects possibly reducing risk for alshimers’s.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/08/this-is-your-brain-on-fish/375638/
Environmentalists: Hike In Bluefin Tuna Quota Could Undermine Conservation Efforts
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Mandate Letter (August 28, 2018)
Minister Wilkinson received his mandate letter today from PM Justin Trudeau.
Please find the link below for the full letter.
Trudeau listed the Minister's top priorities which may affect coastal communities and the commercial fishing industry:
"In particular, I will expect you to work with your colleagues and through established legislative, regulatory, and Cabinet processes to deliver on your top priorities:
- Work with the Ministers of Transport, Environment and Climate Change, and Natural Resources to implement and further develop the Oceans Protection Plan. With the world’s longest coastline, Canada must have a world-leading plan to protect it and marine species at risk. Pursue additional initiatives working with provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples and Canadians to better co-manage our three ocean coasts.
- Develop new and innovative approaches to modernize fisheries and aquaculture and responsible economic development on all three coasts. This should include initiatives that create and sustain good middle class jobs, leverage new technologies, and ensure the long-term sustainability of Canada’s oceans economy.
- Advance Bill C-68, the proposed reforms to the Fisheries Act, which seeks to restore lost protections, and incorporate modern safeguards so that fish and fish habitat are protected for future generations and so that Canada’s fisheries can continue to grow Canada’s economy and sustain coastal communities.
- As the government met its target of protecting 5% of our marine and coastal areas by 2017, work with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to achieve our 10% target by 2020. This should include minimum protection standards for Canada’s marine protected areas and marine refuges.
- Co-lead the implementation of the G7 Charlevoix Blueprint for Healthy Oceans, Seas and Resilient Coastal Communities and the G7 Ocean Plastics Charter with the support of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, with a particular focus on plastics, illegal and unreported and unregulated fishing, and ocean monitoring.
- Working with the Minister of Science and Sport, use scientific evidence, traditional Indigenous knowledge, and the precautionary principle, and take into account climate change, when making decisions affecting fish stocks and ecosystem management."
The priority dealing with protected areas differs from previous Minister Leblanc's letter:
Minister LeBlanc's mandate letter:
"Work with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to increase the proportion of Canada’s marine and coastal areas that are protected – to five percent by 2017, and ten percent by 2020 – supported by new investments in community consultation and science."
Minister Wilkinson's letter:
"As the government met its target of protecting 5% of our marine and coastal areas by 2017, work with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to achieve our 10% target by 2020. This should include minimum protection standards for Canada’s marine protected areas and marine refuges."
Full mandate letter:
***If you know of members who are not receiving emails please contact tiare@leewardltd.com to have email address' updated.***
MSC to come up with new proposal, after U-turn on ‘unit of assessment’ review
New Marine Stewardship Council proposal to reassess a previous decision to disallow MSC certified seafood to be caught concurrently with non-MSC certified seafood. Of particular concern were many tuna fisheries around and world and other multispecies, multi-gear fisheries.
Click on the link below for the full story:
"New Fisheries Minister Sheds Some Light on Surf Clam Mess; Says LeBlanc Initiated Termination"
Further information on the reversal of the surf clam licence
