Voluntary Snow Crab Closures The pre-implementation of closure discussions in the Bay of Islands

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Voluntary Snow Crab Closures The pre-implementation of closure discussions in the Bay of Islands"

David Shelton
5 years ago
Views:

1 Voluntary Snow Crab Closures The pre-implementation of closure discussions in the Bay of Islands Kim Olson Memorial University Geography/International Coastal Network

2 Conservation Measures Conservation Measure Gear, size, boat regulations Seasons Licenses Quotas Trap Limits By-catch exclusion Closures

3 Fishery Closures Closures can (be) Place-based Species-based Gear-based Vary temporally Initiated by management or fish harvesters

Fisher-initiated Closures Implemented by fish harvesters outside of the targeted fishery Petty Harbour Implemented by fish harvesters in the

4 Fisher-initiated Closures Implemented by fish harvesters outside of the targeted fishery Petty Harbour Implemented by fish harvesters in the targeted fishery (voluntary) St. Brendan s East Port Bonne Bay Bay of Islands* Gill nets gear based Lobster: place based Snow Crab: species based Google Maps

5 Objective Pre-implementation (Step Zero) of voluntary closures Path dependency Systems approach Stakeholder interactions Drivers Discussions Enforcement Monitoring Closure is Implemented

6 What are the drivers, factors, and conditions that are conducive to and motivate voluntary closures? Objectives: Steps and processes Participation and interaction Community support Fish Chain Research Question Pre-harvest (marine environment) Harvest (fish capture) Post-harvest (processing & marketing) Kooiman et al. 2005: Fish for Life ; Chuenpagdee and Jentoft, Marine Policy

7 Methodology Semi-structured interviews Key informant meetings

8 Bay of Islands Study Site Google Maps

9 Fisheries in the Bay of Islands 1780 s: salmon, herring, cod 1880 s: lobster 1900 s: halibut 1950 s: capelin, mackerel 1988: snow crab Memorial University Digital Archives

10 Fisheries in the Bay of Islands Multiple Licenses Keystone species Mackerel Herring Lobster Secondary species Halibut Cod Capelin Snow crab Markets in North America, Asia, Europe

11 Bay of Islands Crab Fishery 31 SL 30 SL 8 LL Small License (SL): 4,000lbs/each Large License (LL): 17,000lbs/each Natural Resource Canada

12 Closure Discussions Process

13 Closure Discussions Spring 2009 (mid-season) Beginning of discussions Spring 2010 (pre-season) Discussions continued April 1 st, 2010 Fishery Opened

14 Metric Tonnes How and why was the idea Declining Stocks Bonne Bay Closure Declining Prices conceived? There was no crab. We seemed to think they were depleted pretty good - Fish Harvester $2.45/lb $1.45/lb Large IQ Quota Small IQ Quota Small IQ Landings Large IQ Landings Total Landings 0 Department of Fisheries and Oceans

How was it perceived? Small quota vs. large quota harvesters North shore vs. south shore Non-crab harvesters Processors Indifferent Community members Yes I am aware of snow crab closure discussions.

15 How was it perceived? Small quota vs. large quota harvesters North shore vs. south shore Non-crab harvesters Processors Indifferent Community members Yes I am aware of snow crab closure discussions. It should have closed. There was scarcity... I appreciate the extra few dollars, but next year I think the stocks would have increased. Last year they were depleted pretty bad Fish Harvester No strong opinion We (large licenses holders) didn't want to have it closed. They were saying that you are going to keep damaging the stocks if you keep on going - Fish Harvester Varying views If you were in support of it, you would be supporting half the crowd, and seeing the other crowd starving to death. So rather than seeing people go hungry, no I wouldn't Fish Harvester

16 What were the expectations of harvesters? Stocks time to re-build More control over fishery Reduce the possibility of quota cuts Control over lifting of closure I would say it would revive the stocks Fish Harvester If we closed it ourselves we could control when it would open again Fish Harvester

17 Potential Impacts Crab harvesters Those with greater economic reliance Non-crab harvesters Spin-off effects of increased pressure on other species Community Less money spent Very small local market for crab Processors Less than 4% crab processed from BOI

18 Benefits Marine environment Allow time for stocks to recover Crab harvesters Increased control in fisheries management Improve sustainability of the crab fishery Fisheries management Cost effective Increased compliance Decreased implementation period

19 Conclusion No consensus on proposed closure o Varying impacts o No consensus Closure was not implemented April 1 st, 2010, crab fishery opened Continued discussion on closures o Declining stocks o Strong support

20 Conclusions Important to understand the process Why they succeed and fail Role in management Varying impacts across the fish chain Environmental, social, economic Not a quick-fix Perceived differently Varying support and expectations Outcomes are uncertain

interview participants Colleagues in the International Coastal

21 Thank You Many thanks to: CURRA, Bonne Bay Marine Station, Ratana Chuenpagdee, Bob Hooper and Gabriela Sabau Key informants and interview participants Colleagues in the International Coastal Network Lab Funding: MUN, SSHRC, ICN, Harris Centre Questions/Comments

Critical Habitat. Those who contributed to this research are:

Critical Habitat. Those who contributed to this research are: TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE PORT MOUTON BAY TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE PORT MOUTON BAY Critical Habitat The community of Port Mouton Bay NS has a sound economic base in the lobster fishery.