British Columbia Sport Fishing Regulations, 1996 (Halibut No-fee licence)

Enabling act(s): Fisheries Act

Description of the objective

The proposed amendment would add a no-fee licence to the British Columbia Sport Fishing Regulations, 1996, which would allow individuals and enterprises to obtain halibut quota from commercial harvesters. It would also set a separate close-time for halibut fished under a quota transfer licence to allow the quota transfer fishery to be managed separately from the open access recreational halibut fishery.

Indication of business impacts

There may be business impacts. The “One-for-One” Rule and/or Small Business Lens may apply.

Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)

There is no regulatory cooperation for this initiative

Public consultation opportunities

Consultations were held with commercial and recreational stakeholders, as well as First Nations and Aboriginal groups from July 2012-December 2012. These consultations ranged from face-to-face meetings at the Sport Fishing Advisory Board Halibut Sub-committee to targeted emails requesting comments on the draft proposal. It should be noted that the Sport Fishing Advisory Board is a recognized process for consultation with recreational fisheries in British Columbia.

It should also be noted that since the comment period on the draft regulatory proposal in late 2012, representatives from commercial fisheries, recreational fisheries, and first nations have reiterated the same perspectives on the proposal generally expressed by their groups during the 2012 comment period.

Information on future consultation opportunities for this regulatory proposal will be provided as it becomes available.

Further information

N/A

Departmental contact

Genevieve Cauffope
Chief of Regulations, Pacific Region
Telephone: 604-666-0588
Email: genevieve.cauffope@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Date the regulatory initiative was first included in the Forward Regulatory Plan: 2012