Fisheries Solutions Must Be Fair, Sustainable
By Geoff Plant
Although fisheries are an integral component of treaty settlements, B.C. has not been active in fish negotiations over the last year as we recognized the need to establish treaty principles through a public referendum.
While the primary responsibility for fisheries at the treaty tables lies with Canada, it is important that the province now re-engage in these negotiations. We are ill advised to rely on the federal government to put in place treaty arrangements that meet provincial interests. And our interests are real and significant.
British Columbians want treaty arrangements that support an integrated, economically viable industry that creates employment and contributes to the sustainability of fish resources. And as the referendum results clearly indicated, British Columbians want their government to work to ensure fishing opportunities for all British Columbians. One of our goals as a provincial government must therefore be to protect non-aboriginal access to the fishery.
At six lead negotiations, Canada has proposed harvest agreements as the means to provide commercial opportunities to First Nations. Harvest agreements are long-term, renewable contracts that are given effect outside treaties through federal legislation. They include provisions for the harvest and sale of fish, harvest monitoring and fisheries management.
Industry has expressed significant concerns about the federal approach to fisheries in treaty negotiations. British Columbia shares many of these concerns.
We ask of Canada – how will fish resources be shared after treaties? Surely it is reasonable to ask the federal government to bring forward a vision that provides certainty and stability for all users, not just First Nations
It is also reasonable that federal policy result in equitable arrangements across all sectors of the Pacific fishery. Canada’s proposals provide First Nations with long-term, secure access to fish resources. Other users also seek such security and wonder why they have to operate under a different – less secure – system than that which Canada has proposed for First Nations. This inequality of treatment is unprincipled and unfair.
Canada must also explain how our vital fisheries resource will be managed sustainably and effectively after treaties. A profusion of fisheries arrangements may create such complexity that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans will be unable to manage and protect the resources.
The province calls upon Canada to address these issues. But in doing so, we want to make sure that provincial interests are met. Accordingly, the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and I have been instructed to develop a comprehensive strategy to work with Canada to put in place secure, equitable and sustainable fishing arrangements for all participants and to make progress on treaty negotiations.
We do not come to this task with a fully conceived plan. We think that we understand the concerns that have been raised by the industry. And we think that any plan must conform to the principle that treaties must provide certainty and equity for all users of the fish resources in the province. And we are fully mindful of – and intend to respect – the referendum results. The central feature of our strategy is that we need to hear from others.
To this end, we have asked Dr. Peter Pearse, who is a recognized fisheries expert, to assist us in consulting with industry and other stakeholders to help build a strategy to engage the federal government to find a way to deal with these difficult issues.
Here is our commitment: we will work hand-in-hand with representatives of commercial, recreational and fish-processing sectors to establish an economically viable and equitable Pacific fishery that will support treaty agreements and will be fully consistent with the commitments made by the B.C. Liberal Party prior to the last election. This is an opportunity for voices of the many groups who have a legitimate interest in the fishery to be heard.