More Fish

Problem: Commercial Fishermen need access to more fish

Solutions:

• More enhancement facilities to produce salmon in areas where we can harvest them –

• use them as production facilities – fill all hatcheries to capacity (government needs to renew its commitment to production hatcheries)

• more money from governments (Federation lobby)

• Community Regional Salmon Development (Alaska-style ocean ranching)

• Coastal enhancement – like McLaughlin Bay

• Outplanting – use DFO hatcheries and outplant fry to an area where there are not mixed stock fishery problems

• Investing - a levy from fishermen – cost recovery fishery to support production costs

• New fish- new opportunities for harvests

• Needs buy-in from First Nations as projects in their territories

• Other groups – objections – need to get public backing

• Round tables everywhere

• Agreements can lead to more fishing opportunities

• Use of small bite fisheries

• Tied to round tables

• Facilitation is very necessary. It needs to be from outside organizations, not DFO

• DFO managers must come up with reference points

• On WCVI the assessments are fisheries drivers

• Does not cost DFO much – Fishers pay by fishing – dependent on fish quantity and price – fishermen have to commit to complete the survey (the small bite fishery)

• Need a ‘fishermen’s biologist’

• Need to effectively challenge DFO mortality rates on bycatch that are hampering our ability to fish

• Need to effectively challenge DFO on required escapement numbers and low harvest rates