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. 

[Harrison Cull]

I am  not for the tags for the recreational  fishery, but if it means getting a bigger cod quota for my dad and many other inshore fisherman in this area and the rest of newfoundland than something needs to be done. Here in this area they only got 2700 lb to catch in about 2 weeks. Which starts at the end of the recreational fishery. The fish was so plentiful  last year my dad only used 1 net to catch his fish and only average between 30 and 50 cents per lb, while people in the recreational  fishery were going in and out every day they could with many people making more than one trip a day. This year they increased the number of day to the recreational fishery and never increase the quota for the inshore fishermen. This year 1 recreation boater can go out and catch between  4000 and 5500 lb of fish if they choose to. That's  only 15 fish per boat a day at an average  of 6 - 8 lbs. Not everyone will do this or even most, but there are people that are taking  advantage of this to make a few dollars for them selves.

[Peter Emberley]

The fishermen I was talking to tonight, said the fish are not worth catching anymore. They claim the new white fish people are crazy about is talapia. 5000 pound at 50 cents a pound is not a lot of money. Alright if you can do it in one trip. They were saying the cost to catch it, not worth it. Amazing change in the times.

[GLENN BROOKS]

One of the first negative comments I heard when the recreation fishery was extended came from a Fisherman who has a License to fish and he is also working with the provincial government. So the point I,m making is; he is taking away a job from someone else. Now I hear your comment about about recreation boaters taking fish and making a few dollars. { which I don,t agree with] . However I never hear any comments about the fishermen who sale fish for cash and don,t declare it on their income tax. [ again I,m glad some do because I have taken advantage of it]  However when your pointing a finger at some one there is 3 pointing back at you.

[Harrison Cull]

I am not pointing the finger at anyone. You mention the fisherman that was working a second jod with the provincial government that he was taking a job away from some one eles.I myslef had to work too jobs in the past to keep things going and i know a few people around now that are still working too jods to survive and i don't think they are taking jobs away from anyone. You do anything to keep up with the bill and put food on the table. And I agree that 2700 lb of fish at 30 to 50 cents a lb is not worth catching, but every little bit counts when you only got a little to catach. I'am just stating that if they can open the recreational fishery longer than they can increase the quatoes for the fisherman. I know that cod has lost it's place in the market, but there still is a place there and we need to start growing it again. Never heard of the talapia fish before so i looked it up. This is a warm fresh water fish that is not native to the province and is only farmed in a few places in canada

[GLENN BROOKS]

I grew up in a row boat. Was allowed to go out and get a fish to eat. When I was younger I realized that if I did not have a job I could still build a boat, plant some vegetables and cut some wood.  Sadly this was taken away in 92 or 93. At that time  a common complain was the recreational guy was saleing fish under the table. If I remember correctly it was still open for the average guy, but closed to the fishermen for a while until total shut down. I will never feel the same about nfld as long as I can not get a fish to eat if for some reason times were hard.   And I,m sure when I retire they are going to get a lot harder. A good supply of fish would go a long ways with some moose.  I remember 1 old guy around 80 who used to row out and get his fish.

.If it was not for moose hunting and close family it would likely be good by to nfld. Nfld is beautifull but weather is not one of its strongest points...  and one of the main reasons I  would leave is because I,m not allowed to get a fish to eat. Down on the south coast we need to get 40 plus fish to equal 10 or 12 on the north east coast. Also most of the time the season as been open I,m working or out of the province.

[Peter Emberley]

It is a farmed fish. I wouldn't eat it. Years ago before the collapse of the fishery quite a few people had a part time fishing license.