Recreational fishery switching to licence and tag system next year

[Peter Emberley]

DFO will announce consultation process in coming weeks

Get ready for some big changes if you're one of the thousands of people in Newfoundland and Labrador who take advantage of the annual recreational cod fishery.

Starting next year, you'll have to buy a licence before you leave the wharf. Then you'll have to tag every fish you catch. 

Officials with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans are still working on the details, although the basic information was revealed in May when the department announced this year's recreational fishery would expand from 32 to 46 days.

DFO explains the extra 14 days were introduced as a transitional measure "in advance of implementation of a license and tags regime" expected  next year. 

Right now anglers don't have to buy a licence or tag fish. But daily bag limits are strictly enforced, with stiff penalties for offenders.

Public to be consulted

"We're not looking at it as making it difficult for people," said DFO resource manager Patricia Williams. "We're going to a public consultation process over the coming number of months to hear what people have to say." 

The department said these measures will help DFO Science understand "the amount of removals and fishing effort" from the recreational fishery.

Williams told the St. John's Morning Showthat there's a requirement in DFO's regulatory regime that calls for a $10 fee for each licence, although the exact amount has yet to be determined.

Since, theoretically, every citizen could take and tag 230 fish, there's also potential for a lot of administrative jigging around. 

"There's all kinds of views out there," Williams said.

"So we're going to the consultation process to hear those voices and hear what people have to say and help us shape how we're going to introduce that licence and tags regime." 

Williams said the consultation process would likely be a combination of community meetings and online submissions where people would be encouraged to voice concerns and share opinions. 

The new rules will only apply to Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec's Lower North Shore.

She said the long-term plan is to make the rules consistent across the Atlantic region. 

Williams said details on the consultation process should be released in the next few weeks. 

[Peter Emberley]

License and tags for our province, license & tags for every province.

[kenneth Griffiths]

I don't understand why Newfoundland erstwhile are allways taking crap like this. Nova Scotia can fish when they like and we can't. It's to to say we put up with a lot of b@//$&!t.Regulations at coos Canad should be the same for all. Why we put up with it is beyond me. Just another money scam. So why don't they give the tags our for free?? They give everything else out for free. Don't be fooled our fishery is gone and no one is going to bring it back. There is enough people in Newfoundland to protest this crap we all put up with. My rant... ..

[Peter Emberley]

It's not about conservation, it's not not about how much fish is taken. I have lost all faith in NFHA. The membership has dropped to 1, the president himself. I do not want him speaking on my behalf, making decisions or suggestions that he knows nothing about. He has no mandate to represent anyone. Why should a person who do not own a boat or has not taken the opportunity to speak with others to see how they feel, why should "he" make suggestions on what we want or do not want?

[GLENN BROOKS]

What is NFHA? I tried to google it.

[Peter Emberley]

Newfoundland Federation of Hunters & Anglers. Ed Smith, myself and several others had a meeting a few years ago to try and form a group of people for a voice in outdoor matters. It didn't get off the ground at that time. Many months later Ed Smith and several others were successful in starting up the group. The group became known as Newfoundland Federation of Hunters & Anglers. For the first year membership was growing all was looking good. However after the first year the board fell apart all the members left and they lost their charity status. Barry was the person that spoke on behalf of the NFHA. Once everyone resigned he was the only one left, he assumed the roll of president. The group started with very good intentions and I supported NFHA until now. They supported what the majority of hunters and anglers wanted and they lobbied on their behalf.
Now their is no they, no one asked the people who partake in the fishery what they would like to see. He assumed people would like to see it extended. I think he is right on that account. He made several suggestions to the federal minister of fisheries, one of those suggestions was a license and tags system. I can only assume that the minister of fisheries was unaware that she was meeting with a person representing a group that no longer exists.

NFHA does not represent me or my views. To be honest it upsets me that someone would take it upon themselves to speak on your behalf, my behalf and everyone else's behalf. Only our province and the shore of Quebec will be required to purchase a license and tags and it upsets me to be honest.
As far as I am concerned Barry as president of NFHA is representing a group that does not exist.
No one asked me my opinion on the food fishery and I don't think a person that does not own a boat or partake in the fishery should have any influence on the decision making.

[GLENN BROOKS]

Makes sense what your saying. Thanks for the explanation.

[Boyd Winsor]

For many people in outport Newfoundland & Labrador, cod is quite simply sustenance. Many people can't afford the luxury of investing in aesthetically appealing stuff like a small segment of the population. Unfortunately, and sadly, this segment who include the tourism sector, want to put the label recreation on what is in essence our cultural identity. This very important source of protein sustains many people for the winter as it has done so for hundreds of years. Why is it that we as a people are represented by a tiny minority of our population. 

[Peter Emberley]

I agree 100%.

[GLENN BROOKS]

I agree Boyd. I believe every one got the right to get a fish to eat. I grew up in that environment. Never will get over some gutless politician allows it to be taken away.

[Peter Emberley]

It is my opinion that we as the people of this province, has to purchase a license and tags to fish for cod then so should every other Canadian.

[Peter Emberley]

The government says well the people of NL spend more time after cod than any other province. Well damm it that's why Newfoundland was settled over 500 years ago. It wasn't because of oil and gas or muskrat. It was settled because of the cod fish. Fishing has been bred into us for 500 years. We didn't give the fish to foreigners, the government did, that's one of the reasons it was destroyed!

[kenneth Griffiths]

I totally agree with you on that Peter. I guess we do take to the water it's only open for a few weeks. Every else it's open year round.