P.E.I. fishers welcome extension on DFO’s deadline for gear to protect whales | 24CA News
Some members of the P.E.I. fishing group are welcoming DFO’s resolution to increase the deadline for break-free fishing gear till 2024.
This is when fishers might be required to make use of gear designed to interrupt below 1,700 kilos to assist species just like the endangered North Atlantic proper whale escape throughout an entanglement.
“I mean, we’re certainly happy to see it extended,” mentioned Marvin Jollymore, a lobster and eel fisher from New London, P.E.I.
“There’s so many questions as to, you know, how long does [the gear] last? You put it in, does it last one season? Does it last two seasons, does it last forever? Is it only good for half a season?”
The new necessities of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans had been initially purported to be in place by 2022. But that was delayed by a 12 months due to COVID-19.
Last month the division introduced that the deadline could be prolonged once more for fisheries in Atlantic Canada and Quebec.
“We’ve learned a lot and we’ve changed a lot of our fisheries management to protect right whales over the past several years and frankly what we’ve learned is that we need to be careful about this kind of technology,” mentioned Brett Gilchrist, DFO’s director of nationwide packages.
“Every fishery in Canada is different.”
‘We have to have time’
The P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association welcomes the extension. The affiliation mentioned it’ll permit for extra trials and provides fishers time to arrange.
“The right decision by DFO ultimately because to have a successful transition we need to have time to trial,” mentioned Melanie Giffin, a marine biologist with the PEIFA.
“Fishers need to be given the time to put in different options, see what works for them. Because what works for a fisher in one area in P.E.I. may not work for a fisher in another area.”
Jollymore agrees.
“We’re always apprehensive in partaking in anything new until it’s explored or figured out if it will or will not work,” he mentioned.
“You’ve got to be concerned about it jumping out of your hauler when you’re hauling your gear and lot of stress on the rope. Is that something that’s going to jump out and hit you in the hand, break your hand or hit you in the face?”
‘Healthy stability’
According to Giffin, there is no such thing as a file of a North Atlantic proper whale ever getting entangled in P.E.I. lobster gear. The group initially requested DFO for an exemption for lobster fishers however was denied.
“We want a healthy balance between fishing and making sure we’re protecting those whales,” she mentioned.
“It’s a very valid question as to whether or not it did need to be changed. At this point, we’re still on the fence, considering that there were never any sightings or entanglements here.”
There are fewer than 350 North Atlantic proper whales in existence and their distribution patterns are altering.
“We still don’t know exactly why they’ve relocated and we don’t know if they’re going to stay. What that also means is we don’t know where they’re going,” mentioned Gilchrist.
Looking for suggestions
Gilchrist pointed to closure protocols that require fishers to tug their gear from the water if a proper whale is noticed. But with the brand new gear necessities, some surprise if these closures will nonetheless be obligatory.
“Either you move or the whale moves. Well, if it’s the whale, I mean, you just can’t go out and shove a whale out,” mentioned Jollymore.
“When we all put this whale-safe gear in, then we should never have to be threatened with the thought that we’ll ever have to take out gear.”
DFO mentioned though the present timeline is now set for 2024, it’ll use the suggestions it receives this season to find out the easiest way ahead.
“If it’s not a best fit because harvesters don’t like it because it’s a challenge but it actually works to protect right whales … there may still be an interest in implementing this rule,” mentioned Gilchrist.
“If there are clear safety issues associated with lower breaking strength gear, then it’s something we absolutely have to take into consideration.”
The PEIFA mentioned some fishers have additionally been pondering exterior the field to give you different options that work for them whereas additionally defending the whales.
