Fisheries for Communities Gathering a Success

On February 10th and 11th, BC fish harvesters from Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, academics, NGOs, industry associations, First Nations leaders, local, provincial and federal governments, and policymakers gathered in Nanaimo for the second Fisheries for Communities Gathering. They convened to continue pursuing a policy framework for BC fisheries that ensures the value of BC’s seafood flows to the people on deck, on the dock, and in their BC coastal communities and First Nations instead of lining the pockets of investors or large-scale corporations. Gathering participants called on the Federal and Provincial governments for action on the 20 recommendations made – with unanimous support – by the federal Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans (FOPO) in May 2019 to correct currently broken fisheries licencing policies. The diversity, cooperation, and unity among those at the Gathering reflected a common frustration with the current system and need for reform.