Department of Fisheries and Oceans
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Released: 01 June, 2001

Fisheries And Oceans Canada Invests In Selective Fishingprojects For 2001

June 1, 2001

VANCOUVER Â- Today the Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and MP for Vancouver-Burnaby South, announced that First Nations and commercial selective fishing projects will receive $160,000 in funding this year through the Selective Fisheries Program.

Of the total 31 First Nations and commercial proposals received this year, 17 have been approved-in-principle to test gear and fishing methods in the 2001 fishing season. The selective fishing proposals were considered by a panel of members from the salmon fishing industry, as well as federal and provincial government representatives. Proposals for experimental selective fishing projects are required to meet strict eligibility criteria, including achieving conservation goals, scientific rigour, sufficient monitoring levels and future applicability.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada will work with the proponents of the 17 approved-in-principle proposals to come to an agreement on each projectÂ's design and cost. Projects that are similar in nature may be combined. Once an agreement is reached, the second stage of the approval process will begin, leading to the issuance of necessary licences and an agreement. Agreement-in-principle is based on the pre-season estimates of total allowable catch (TAC), of which up to 5 per cent may be used to fund commercial selective fishing projects. If the actual run size is less than anticipated, some projects may need to be adjusted or may not proceed.

Selective fishing projects that use traditional fishing gear, rather than the introduction of new gear, will receive the highest priority. Those proposals that wish to test non-traditional fishing gear, using TAC, will require the support of licence holders in the area of the proposed project. To ensure responsible use of the resource and project funding, efforts will be made to combine projects that propose to test similar gear or methods.

The purpose of the Selective Fisheries Program is to develop gear and methods that enable the harvest of target species or stocks while avoiding or releasing unharmed less productive species or stocks, including marine mammals and seabirds (by-catch). This year, $160,000 in funding is available from Fisheries and Oceans for projects that will develop, modify or test selective fishing gear. It is anticipated that successful proposals will advance understanding and knowledge, from what has been learned to date, or refine a strategy to a point that it could be implemented into a fishery to improve selectivity.

The Selective Fisheries Program is funded through the $400 million Pacific Fisheries Adjustment and Restructuring Program (PFAR), which was announced in June 1998. This year is the fourth and final year for the Selective Fisheries Program. Although directed funding for the program is ending, selective fishing practices, and new developments to make fisheries more responsible and selective, will continue in the future through existing programs.

Since the inception of the Selective Fisheries Program, approximately $20 million has been invested, which includes over 100 experimental pilots testing innovative ideas and gear modifications in gillnet, seine, troll, recreational and First Nations salmon fisheries. Many of these new gear modifications and fishing methods are in the process of being adopted in salmon fisheries. In addition to funding for experimental projects, the program has contributed funds for scientific research; monitoring by independent on-board observers to ensure that conservation objectives are attained; increased enforcement to ensure compliance with selectivity practices; and training and education support for harvesters and anglers about effective selective fishing practices.

In the past two years, more than 50 First Nations have been funded to purchase more selective fishing gear for their food, social and ceremonial fisheries. Fish wheels, traps, weirs, beach seines and dipnets have in some cases replaced less-selective gear such as in-river gillnets. A selective fishing program for First Nations focusing on training and education is also being developed.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is also working with the recreational fishing sector to develop selective fishing proposals which include fishing gear and method modifications, as well as a selective fishing training and education component.

Selective fishing practices are an increasingly important element of CanadaÂ's fisheries, and are part of the long-term conservation strategy for rebuilding the resource and developing sustainable fishering practices. In meeting conservation objectives, fishing opportunities and resource allocations will be defined by the ability of all harvesters - First Nations, commercial and recreational anglers - to fish selectively.

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Please visit our web site at http://www-comm.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Backgrounder -- BG-PR-01-016E  
   
FIRST NATIONS/COMMERCIAL SELECTIVE FISHING PROJECTS APPROVED-IN-PRINCIPLE 2001