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Positions
On Issues
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Presented at:
The BC Seafood Alliance Workshop on "Sustainability
through Co-Management:
Managing for a Sustainable, Profitable Fishery,"October 9-10,
2002, Vancouver, BC
By Christina Burridge, Executive Director, BC Seafood Alliance
In its 2001 Vision for a Modern Seafood Industry
in BC, the BC Seafood Alliance identified a number of priority action
items, as well as a series of performance measures by which the
sector’s development can be measured over time. It also promised
to monitor annually the performance of the province’s seafood
sector in advancing this Agenda for Change.
PRIORITY ACTION ITEMS
1. Co-operative Management Agreements
2001/02 Target:
Within five years, negotiate cooperative
management agreements for all of BC’s commercial fisheries that
establish the roles and responsibilities of the federal government,
the provincial government and fisheries interests—and provide
security of access to the resource for tenure holders.
Progress: Progressing,
especially on first part.
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Sustainability through Co-Management
workshop, associated papers |
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Still awaiting commitments re security of
access |
2002/03 Target:
No change.
2. Federal/Provincial Aquaculture Framework
2001/02 Target:
Within two years, establish a federally and provincially integrated
and consistent policy framework for aquaculture in B.C. to encourage
private sector investment in sustainable growth.
Progress: Progressing
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Federal Aquaculture Policy Framework |
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Federal/provincial guidebook on aquaculture
application requirements nearing completion, likely early 2003 |
2002/03 Target:
No change.
3. Inspection Requirements
2001/02 Target:
Within one year, harmonize provincial and federal seafood inspection
regulations to eliminate unnecessary provincial regulations
by having all seafood in B.C. meet CFIA standards.
Progress: One-year
target not met.
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Preliminary discussions between MAFF, Health
Canada and CFIA |
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Provincial funding to analyse current system
and identify overlaps and difficulties to further discussion |
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Agricultural Policy Framework identifies
food safety as one of six pillars of a successful food industry. |
2002/03 Target:
Continue discussions with view to resolution by 2004.
4. New Access to Capture Fisheries
2001/02 Target:
Within one year, secure an explicit commitment from both the
federal and provincial governments that any new access to capture
fisheries must be retired with compensation out of existing
fishery access.
Progress: Target
not met.
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Alliance position paper on access
distributed |
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Correspondence with both levels of government |
2002/03 Target: Continue
discussions with view to resolution by 2004.
5. R& D and Marketing
2001/02 Target:
Within six months, establish a joint federal/provincial/industry
task force to develop a proposal for the establishment of an
organization and infrastructure to support industry research
and development and to pursue an international marketing and
brand development campaign for B.C. seafood products.
Progress: Target
not met.
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Successful conclusion October 2 to five-year
campaign to gain access for seafood to federal trade development
programs |
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Inclusion of seafood in Agricultural Policy
Framework, including branding pilot for Canadian food products
in Japan. |
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Informal meetings with both levels of government
and industry; provincial funding secured for strategic analysis
of delivery of generic marketing. |
2002/03 Target: Continue
discussions with a view to establishing a more formal mechanism
by 2004.
6. IFMPs to Include Sustainability Goals
2001/02 Target: Beginning
in 2002, ensure that every integrated fishery management plan
in British Columbia identifies key sustainability issues, goals
and criteria, as well as a detailed plan and timeline to achieve
them.
Progress: Progressing
through a number of initiatives
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Sections being incorporated into a number
of integrated management plans |
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Pilot implementation of objectives-based
management in sablefish and roe herring fisheries |
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Four implementation projects for the Canadian
Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing in B.C. fisheries: integrated
groundfish fisheries, geoduck, spawn-on-kelp and seine roe herring. |
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Application for MSC certification of BC wild
salmon fishery as sustainable and well-managed. |
2002/03 Target: no
change
7. Performance Based Waste Standards for Finfish
Aquaculture
2001/02 Target:
By the end of 2001, implement performance-based waste management
standards for finfish aquaculture.
Progress: Complete.
Standards recently announced.
2002/03 Target:
Monitor implementation
8. Formal Dialogue between Wild Fisheries &
Aquaculture
2001/02 Target: Within
six months, establish a formal process for dialogue between
BC’s wild fisheries and aquaculture sectors to pursue
common interests, including protection of the marine environment,
processing and other infrastructure synergies, technology transfer,
policy issues etc.
Progress: More
informal process substituted reflecting divisions in commercial
sector re marine aquaculture.
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Correspondence with both levels of government
requesting inclusion in advisory processes |
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Appointment to BC Aquaculture Research &
Development Committee of Science Council of BC, tasked with
identifying key research areas for Aqua-E fund |
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Participation in OCAD processes—trans-border
issues, food safety issues, business environment |
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Provincial SWOT analysis of four sectors
should identify areas of common interest and/or conflict |
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Support for PFRCC project to expand and deepen
the current public dialogue about the potential impacts of salmon
aquaculture on wild salmon by examining the information and
assumptions supporting the arguments of opposing interests and
developing a credible portrayal of key issues and impacts. |
2002/03 Target: Revised.
Continue informal discussion; press both levels of government
for more information, better research, and enforcement. Encourage
aquaculture and capture fisheries in sustainability goals.
PERFORMANCE MEASURES
1. Wholesale Value
Target: Increase
the total wholesale value of BC seafood products by an average
of four per cent annually for the next 10 years. This would
increase the total value of the province’s seafood industry
from approximately $1 billion to $1.5 billion by 2011.
Performance: Target
not met. Wholesale value of just over $1 billion dropped 4%,
based on preliminary figures for 2001 and revised, higher ones
for 2000. MAFF’s "BC Seafood Year in Review"
notes that industry is "poised for growth."
2. Exports
Target: By 2005,
regain British Columbia’s status as the leading exporter
of seafood products in Canada. In 2000, B.C. exported seafood
products valued at $903 million, while the leading Canadian
province (Nova Scotia) exported seafood products valued at $1.096
billion.
Performance: 2001
exports $974 million, up 8%. NS exports to $1.1 billion, or
static.
3. Export Share
Target: By 2006,
increase B.C.’s share of total Canadian seafood exports
from 22 to 27 per cent. The total value of Canadian seafood
exports in 2000 was $4.07 billion.
Performance: 2001
total exports, $4.21 billion; BC gained 1 percentage point to
23%.
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