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Perhaps Duncan not 'sustainable' 

COURIER-ISLANDER JANUARY 28, 2011 

John Duncan's recent letter to the editor regarding the current Halibut allocation debate is very

misleading. He either is completely unaware of the issues, or worse yet, unwilling to react to his

constituents' legitimate concerns. Mr. Duncan's assertion that the flawed 2003 federal Liberal party's

decision on halibut allocation is required to maintain the "health and sustainability" of the North Pacific

halibut fishery is simply untrue. By all accounts the North Pacific halibut fishery has been and

continues to be one of the most sustainably managed fisheries in the world. This is not, and has not

been, in dispute by any halibut fishing sector.

The Canadian and United States Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of halibut in the North Pacific is set

each year by the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). The TAC for both countries is

arrived at by using detailed stock assessment data collected by independent scientists of the IPHC

through extensive sampling and catch reporting by all fishing sectors. How Canada divides up its TAC

between first nations, commercial and the recreational fishing sectors will not affect the sustainability

of halibut stocks in the North Pacific.

This dividing up or allocation of the current Canadian TAC is what is in dispute. I find it hard to believe

that Mr. Duncan does not know this. He is simply trying to "white wash" the issue to make it appear 

that his governments' lack of movement on this issue has some basis. It doesn't. This is an issue of 

allocation not conservation.

I feel the only way that to quickly resolve the issue of allocating Canada's TAC of halibut between the

recreational and commercial fisheries is for the government of Canada to immediately provide

sufficient funds to the recreational fishery to lease quota from the 400 plus commercial quota holders

through the Pacific Halibut Management Association (PMHA). Leased quota above the current 12 per 

cent allocation will allow the recreational fishery to operate at reasonable limits and provide certainty

for the entire upcoming recreational fishery season. This is something that is critical to the "health

and sustainability" of coast communities. Commercial quota holders will be appropriately

compensated through standard quota leasing arrangements. The government can then "claw back"

what is in principle a loan to recreation fishery through either a halibut "stamp" (similar to the current

salmon "stamp") or an increase in license fees.

Mr. Duncan should be more concerned about the "health and sustainability" of the coast communities

he represents in Ottawa rather than fighting to maintaining the flawed halibut allocation decision by

the previous Liberal government.

His failure to act on this issue, in a timely fashion, has caused the "sustainability" of his position as our 

Member of Parliament to definitely come into question.

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