There are more details of the commercial fishing agreement for the Saugeen Ojibway Nation that has angered local politicians.
MP Larry Miller and MPP Bill Walker have read the fine print of the five year agreement and it shows the Ministry of Natural Resources is giving native commercial fishermen 170 thousand dollars a year.
That is a total of 850 thousand dollars — and both politicians don’t know what the money is for.
Bayshore Broasdcasting News has talked to staff at the MNR and they tell us the funding will pay for a review of fish stocking programs — and it will also ensure compliance with the agreement. (see below)
Miller tells Bayshore Broadcasting News it’s like kicking a man when he is done and it adds insult to injury.
MPP Bill Walker says it is upsetting commercial fishermen are being paid to fish in Colpoys and Owen Sound bays, where local sport fishermen love to fish.
Both Walker and Miller have already expressed disappointment and concerns for the implications the deal could have on local sport fishing, tourism and the economy.
Miller says Georgian Bay is big enough that commercial vessels can stay in the large bay while sportsmen can enjoy the smaller Bays.
Miller says he is deeply disappointed in learning the details and hidden aspects of this new agreement that will no doubt kill local sport fishing in these bays.
Miller calls the financial aspect of the agreement a a complete insult and a shameful act by the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Walker adds he finds it strange the Liberal government can find room for an 850 thousand dollar agreement while facing a 12 billion dollar deficit.
The five year agreement will come into effect on April 26th.
Calls have been made to the Ministry of Natural Resources to explain how the 850 thousand dollars for the Saugeen Ojibway Nation will be spent.
Miller says he has also tried to contact the Chiefs of Saugeen First Nation and Chippewas of Nawash.
Below are some of the points in the MNR SON agreement for the 850 thousand dollars.
MNR will provide SON up to $850,000 over a five year term of a new substantive commercial fishing agreement. This sum to be provided as follows:
Year 1: $250,000 for April 2012- March 2013 (subject to deductions made in accordance with the MOU signed by the parties on February 23, 2012)
Year 2: $180,000 for April 2013- March 2014
Year 3: $170,000 for April 2014- March 2015
Year 4: $150,00 for April 2015- March 2016
Year 5: $100,000 for April 2016- March 2017
Key activities include:
– ensuring effective governance
– setting safe harvest levels
– ensuring compliance with agreement
– collaborating on effective public communication
– review of stocking programs potentially affecting the waters defined in a long-term Substantive Commercial Fishing Agreement
– Economic benefits and capacity for SON.
Ensuring effective governance
MNR will continue to seek input on the management of the fishery through fisheries management zone councils (groups made up of 15-20 volunteers representing a variety of stakeholder and interest groups) and meetings with our partners. MNR and SON will monitor commercial fishing and recreational use and meet in October 2013 to make sure that both commercial and recreational anglers can safely coexist, while maintaining a sustainable fishery.
Setting safe harvest levels
Under the terms of the agreement the parties have established three management zones covering the water of the agreement and a standing working group that will make annual recommendations on total allowable catch. All commercial catch by SON fishers must be reported. This data, along with data from independent netting and other sources will allow these recommendations to be based on a statistical analysis of the fish populations. 2013 quotas will be jointly established for lake whitefish, well in advance of when the limits are expected to be reached. The agreement also includes a process to consider establishing quotas for other species if harvest levels are a concern to either party.
Ensuring compliance with agreement
Enforcement is a shared responsibility. Ontario and SON have obligations under the agreement that they are committed to meeting. A joint governance committee from MNR and SON will meet regularly to, among other things, ensure the terms of the agreement are met. The new agreement commits to a cooperative approach to achieving compliance with the terms of the agreement and implementing its objectives and commitments.