Ottawa is not going through with a pilot project on elvers.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans says a plan to take over a quarter of licence holders’ catches and give to individual fishers has been shelved for 2025.
Minister Diane Lebouthillier says her decision comes after feedback from harvesters.
Canadian Committee for a Sustainable Eel Fishery representative Stanley King says it’s a major relief.
“Nobody wanted this, including the pilot project participants, so this is a win-win,” said King.
He says it would have put a lot more weight on individual fishers who have never had to be responsible for this much in their jobs, and would rather stay under the wing of licence holders.
The lucrative baby eel fishery has been closed for most of the last two years due to poaching and violent incidents on rivers.
New regulations are coming in with expanded access for Indigenous harvesters.
King notes there is still uncertainty just weeks before the season is scheduled to open on March 1.
“DFO has not told us how much quota we can keep, or what river systems we can fish. That makes planning for the season really difficult. Although this news is good, there are still a lot of things to hash out over the next five weeks.”
He says he remains hopeful for a successful season, but the changes won’t take care of the turmoil in the industry.
King says hopes remain with DFO officers and RCMP to enforce the Fisheries Act.
