BC Seafood Alliance Summit IVThe Best Managed Fisheries in the World, Bar None?

Reporting on the Vision for a Modern Seafood Industry in BC

Christina BurridgeExecutive Director

BC Seafood Alliance

The BC Seafood IndustryHarvest ‘000 Tonnes

E = Estimates P = Preliminary

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50

100

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2002P 2003P 2004E

Commercial Fishing Aquaculture Total

The BC Seafood IndustryLanded Value $ Millions

E = Estimates P = Preliminary

$-

$100.0

$200.0

$300.0

$400.0

$500.0

$600.0

$700.0

2002P 2003P 2004E

Commercial Fishing Aquaculture Total

The BC Seafood IndustryWholesale Value $ Millions

E = Estimates P = Preliminary

$-

$200.0

$400.0

$600.0

$800.0

$1,000.0

$1,200.0

2002P 2003P 2004E

Commercial Fishing Aquaculture Total

The BC Seafood Industry 2002-2004

• $984 million in exports to 79 countries

• $375 million in wages

• 10,830 employment PYs from 20,205 jobs

• Contribution to GDP of $750 million

The Agenda for Change: Priority Action Items

• Aquaculture

• Marketing

• Inspection

• Sustainability & Co-Management

• Security of access

Aquaculture

• Change in BCSA membership

• Wild fish must come first

• Credible, effective regulatory framework

• BC Pacific Salmon Forum

Marketing

• Access to AAFC Trade Development &

Promotion programs

• Seafood Value Chain Round Table

• Brand Canada – Quality is in our Nature

• 2010 Olympics

Inspection/Food Safety

• Original focus on harmonizing provincial and

federal regulations

• Completion of report assessing the state of

readiness for traceability in the BC seafood

sector

• Developing a better working relationship with

CFIA on operations and policies

Sustainability and Co-Management

• Sustainability as the first principle, report on Progress

Towards Sustainability

• Gaining control of the fishery can mean improved economics

• SARA

• The co-management continuum

• Improved conservation: catch monitoring and catch reporting

• Groundfish integration

• Pacific fishery reform and changes to the Fisheries Act

• Wild Salmon and halibut MSC applications

Security of Access

• Pearse/McRae and First Nation Report,

summer 2004

• Pacific fisheries report, April 14 announcement, fall consultations

• Settling treaties with First Nations, conservation and the changing marketplace make reform essential

Alliance Principles for Reform

• A single integrated commercial fishery with all participants operating on a level playing field

• Equivalent quotas and licences purchased to offset new First Nations commercial allocations or significant increases in FSC harvest

• Fair rules of compensation

• Mandatory catch monitoring and independent third party dockside verification

• DFO retains the single, ultimate management authority

• Enhanced security of tenure with 25 year, renewable licences

Safety

• Fishing Industry Safety Co-ordinator, 2002-2004; new 5-year program, April 2005

• Reduce the number of fatalities in the fish harvesting sector

• Reduce the number and severity of accidents

• Reduce the average duration of claims through better claims management and return to work practices for the industry

Safety

Performance Measures, 2000-2004

• Wholesale value, $1.02 billion to

$1.13 billion

• Exports up slightly, $903 million to $984,

share unchanged at 22%

• BC is ranked 3rd amongst provinces, down

from 2nd