BC Seafood Alliance Summit IVThe Best Managed Fisheries in the World, Bar None?
Reporting on the Vision for a Modern Seafood Industry in BC
Christina BurridgeExecutive Director
BC Seafood Alliance
The BC Seafood IndustryHarvest ‘000 Tonnes
E = Estimates P = Preliminary
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
2002P 2003P 2004E
Commercial Fishing Aquaculture Total
The BC Seafood IndustryLanded Value $ Millions
E = Estimates P = Preliminary
$-
$100.0
$200.0
$300.0
$400.0
$500.0
$600.0
$700.0
2002P 2003P 2004E
Commercial Fishing Aquaculture Total
The BC Seafood IndustryWholesale Value $ Millions
E = Estimates P = Preliminary
$-
$200.0
$400.0
$600.0
$800.0
$1,000.0
$1,200.0
2002P 2003P 2004E
Commercial Fishing Aquaculture Total
The BC Seafood Industry 2002-2004
• $984 million in exports to 79 countries
• $375 million in wages
• 10,830 employment PYs from 20,205 jobs
• Contribution to GDP of $750 million
The Agenda for Change: Priority Action Items
• Aquaculture
• Marketing
• Inspection
• Sustainability & Co-Management
• Security of access
Aquaculture
• Change in BCSA membership
• Wild fish must come first
• Credible, effective regulatory framework
• BC Pacific Salmon Forum
Marketing
• Access to AAFC Trade Development &
Promotion programs
• Seafood Value Chain Round Table
• Brand Canada – Quality is in our Nature
• 2010 Olympics
Inspection/Food Safety
• Original focus on harmonizing provincial and
federal regulations
• Completion of report assessing the state of
readiness for traceability in the BC seafood
sector
• Developing a better working relationship with
CFIA on operations and policies
Sustainability and Co-Management
• Sustainability as the first principle, report on Progress
Towards Sustainability
• Gaining control of the fishery can mean improved economics
• SARA
• The co-management continuum
• Improved conservation: catch monitoring and catch reporting
• Groundfish integration
• Pacific fishery reform and changes to the Fisheries Act
• Wild Salmon and halibut MSC applications
Security of Access
• Pearse/McRae and First Nation Report,
summer 2004
• Pacific fisheries report, April 14 announcement, fall consultations
• Settling treaties with First Nations, conservation and the changing marketplace make reform essential
Alliance Principles for Reform
• A single integrated commercial fishery with all participants operating on a level playing field
• Equivalent quotas and licences purchased to offset new First Nations commercial allocations or significant increases in FSC harvest
• Fair rules of compensation
• Mandatory catch monitoring and independent third party dockside verification
• DFO retains the single, ultimate management authority
• Enhanced security of tenure with 25 year, renewable licences
Safety
• Fishing Industry Safety Co-ordinator, 2002-2004; new 5-year program, April 2005
• Reduce the number of fatalities in the fish harvesting sector
• Reduce the number and severity of accidents
• Reduce the average duration of claims through better claims management and return to work practices for the industry
Safety
Performance Measures, 2000-2004
• Wholesale value, $1.02 billion to
$1.13 billion
• Exports up slightly, $903 million to $984,
share unchanged at 22%
• BC is ranked 3rd amongst provinces, down
from 2nd