Fish Harvester Representation
Problem: Fishermen are not united – there are few strong fish harvester organizations left.
Solutions:

Provincially mandated fishermen’s organizations
Different Atlantic provinces have different legislation mandating fish harvesters organizations
BC's government should create legislation that will ensure all harvesters belong to one organization or another
Fishermen need to compare other Provinces legislation and choose a model best for BC
Must benefit active commercial fishermen not license investors (unless they are actively fishing)
Discussion has to be led by Province
Everyone has to pay into an organization – no freeloaders
Strengthen other organizations also could strengthen Union
Many fishermen are starting to feel that they need unity and so they need to have an organization to represent them.
Seafood Alliance says they represent 95% of license holders but they mostly represent the positions of CFC and other large licence/quota investors
CSAB is looking at the conservation stamp and asking DFO/ to remit it to the CSAB.
Provincially mandated active fishermen organizations will mean that active fish harvesters will not be dominated by investors
If all fishermen pay to organizations, they can afford to pay for a biologist
How do we engage indigenous fishermen?