UFAWU FISHING PLAN
With official DFO fishing plans delayed by lack of agreement in Canada-U.S. talks and difficulties getting agreements with aboriginal groups, the UFAWU proposed fishing plan closely follows traditional fishing patterns and allocations.
9,10,11,12
HALIBUT REPORT
The introduction of a quota system has not solved halibut market problems. Prices still vary wildly, UFAWU halibut fisher Lome Iverson writes, and some halibut fishers are advocating a halibut marketing board.
SOCKEYE PRICES
Inventory of canned sockeye in B.C. is much lower than historic levels and exports of high quality frozen sockeye have been increasing every year — we sold all of our product last year at increased prices and the Japanese market looks good again this year.
COASTAL COMMUNITIES CONFERENCE
A coastal communities conference in Port Alberni concluded that stock conservation, habitat protection, a moratorium on any further quota fisheries and community input into fishing industry decisions are essential for a healthy industry.
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Herring price up in Japan
UFAWU claims that the companies would get a better return than 1992 from B.C. herring roe sales in Japan were borne out this week with reports that two major contracts were concluded with Japanese importers at C$16.90 to C$17 a pound.
That price is C$2 a pound higher than 1992.
Sales contracts were also concluded early this year, with most of B.C. production being snapped up quickly.
Bill Atkinson's News Report, the key report on the Japanese market, noted Mayl2: "The sudden conclusion of price negotiations is largely the combined result of a favourable exchange rate ... and the specific demand by large brand names Hokkaido salted herring roe gift pack producers."
Those higher prices have not been reflected in higher grounds prices to fishers, however.
The TiJ Herman
Vol. 58, No. 5
Vancouver, B.C.
$1
May 24,1993
• The UFAWU organizing staff stepped up its activities on the floats this month as fishers began taking advantage of warmer weather to begin readying their boats for the season. At Steveston's Paramount Pond small boat organizer John Sutcliffe talks with Isamu Higashitani (I) on his boat, Park Lane, and Tadashi Yesaki, working on his gillnetter, Wild West Too.
Firm treaty stand urged
By JACK NICHOL_
Negotiations to renew the Fraser River Annex to the Pacific Salmon Treaty have submerged into a seemingly hopeless impasse despite some 30 days devoted to the treaty negotiating process.
The treaty's elegant principles offered Canadians a measure of hope that the benefits of resource nurturing and habitat protection and free flow-Fisheries Minister John Crosbie announced May 17 that he will be meeting with U.S. representatives in an effort to get government-to government negotiations with the U.S. over a new salmon treaty.
"Canada has made every effort to move the negotiations forward," he stated. "It is now up to the U.S. federal government to respond with a position that recognizes its obligations under the treaty and Canada's rights as its treaty partner."
ing rivers would ensure B.C.'s fishermen would reap the benefits. But the treaty's principles are in a shambles despite the protracted negotiations
that began this particular cycle last October.
The treaty provides for "each party to receive benefits equivalent to the production of salmon originating in its waters," the so-called equity principle. Canada believes it is in a deficit position in interceptions and the gap is widening. The U.S. is unrepentant for its increasing interceptions and believes Canada should share abundance with their fishermen. The U.S.
wants 28 per cent annually of Fraser River sockeye, a fish grab that could more than double the limit of seven million sockeye imposed in the four year period 1989-1992.
The U.S. side also wants co-operation in conservation of its stocks, with emphasis on chinook and coho taken in the troll fishery on the west coast of Vancouver Island. In the majority of the first eight years of the treaty the see U.S. page 20
Unilateral fisheries heighten AFS tension
Commercial fishers warned this month that the Fraser River salmon fisheries could face upheaval even worse than last summer unless the Department of Fisheries and Oceans accepts its responsibility for enforcement and shelves new regulations set for the Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy.
The first indication of a renewed conflict along the river came May 6 as the Lower Fraser Fishing Authority unilaterally declared a two-day opening in the chinook food fishery.
The LFFA action followed the pub-
lication in the Canada Gazette of new government regulations covering Native fisheries which will give the fisheries minister the right to issue new licences to aboriginal people, with provision for special conditions as well as commercial sales.
LFFA fisheries manager Ernie Crey announced May 6 that the Sto:lo Nation would be conducting a food fishery from 6 p.m. May 7 to 6 p.m. May 9, stating that the extended fishing times had been agreed to by DFO. see UNCERTAINTY page 3