Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to rise to table a petition signed by coastal British Columbians. They highlight that fish in Canadian waters are a public resource and should provide lasting economic, social and cultural benefits for Canadians, first nations and coastal communities; that the current Pacific licensing and quota system has weakened British Columbia's independent fishing fleet, reduced employment security and created barriers for new entrants in intergenerational succession; and that rising licence and quota prices, excessive lease costs, corporate concentration and speculative investment have made it increasingly difficult for active harvesters to earn a sustainable livelihood, with some paying lease fees of up to 80% of the value of their catch.
They highlight that Canada does not maintain a public registry identifying the beneficial ownership of commercial fishing licenses and quota, and places no restrictions on future foreign beneficial ownership in the Pacific region. They also highlight that FOPO recommended reforms to improve the sharing of risks and benefits in Pacific fisheries.
The petitioners call on the government to, first, implement a made-in-British Columbia owner-operator and fleet separation framework where appropriate; second, establish a public registry disclosing the beneficial ownership of commercial fishing licenses and quota; third, prohibit future foreign ownership and foreign beneficial ownership of commercial fishing licenses and quota in the Pacific region; fourth, limit excessive corporate concentration, support fair transition measures and improve access to capital for independent fish harvesters, first nations and new entrants; and, last, implement long-overdue licensing reforms that strengthen independent fish harvesters, coastal communities and the long-term sustainability of Pacific fisheries.