B.C.’s recreational halibut fishery is set to shut down September 5, impacting fishing lodges and charter businesses across the province.
Rob Alcock, spokesman for the BC Sportfishing Coalition, said the closure is the earliest on record and will have a “devastating” impact on tourism businesses in coastal B.C., home to a number of world-class fishing getaways.
“I talked to one lodge this morning who figures he has 2,000 customers he has to call and ask them what they want to do,” Alcock told Business in Vancouver hours after the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced the closure.
In February, BIV reported tourism operators were fed up with the current halibut allocation system, which they claim is designed to favour commercial operators at the expense of lucrative tourism business. (See “B.C. flatfish fight heats up” – issue 1112; February 15-21.)
On the other side of the coin, the commercial operators say the allocation system keeps them afloat during downturns in the fishery.
Chris Sporer, manager of the Pacific Halibut Management Association, which speaks for the commercial fishermen, welcomed the September 5 closure.
“Such decisions can be difficult and no one wants to see the recreational fishery closed, but everyone must bear the costs of conservation,” said Sporer.
He added that tourism operators can lease quota from commercial operators, but Alcock said that program, introduced by the federal government earlier this year, isn’t cost effective for fishing lodges or charter vessels.
Commercial fishermen will continue fishing until November 18.
Joel McKay
Twitter:jmckaybiv