Canada Gazette, Part I, Volume 146, Number 45: Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the Fisheries Act

November 10, 2012

Statutory authority

Fisheries Act

Sponsoring department

Department of Fisheries and Oceans

REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT

(This statement is not part of the Regulations.)

Background

Since the mid-1990s, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has been shifting to a position that industry should pay for the management of the fishery from which it benefits, and that business participants should be responsible for supplying the equipment needed to carry out their business. Accordingly, in most commercial fisheries in Canada, where commercial fishing gear is required to be marked using tags or tabs, participants have the responsibility to supply the required marking devices. The current exceptions to this position include gear tags used in the Atlantic lobster and crab fisheries and validation tabs used in the Pacific fisheries where regulations require that these marking devices be supplied and paid for by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

Gear tags

Gear tags are usually a polyethylene or similar strap approximately 20 cm long and 1 cm wide with a tamperproof locking mechanism on one end. The strap is looped around the frame of a piece of fishing gear (e.g. a lobster trap) and the open end inserted into the lock. Tags are embossed with unique sequential numbers that are identified in a fisher’s licence, and for quick visual reference may also be colour-coded for use in specific fishing areas, or use in specific years. Fishers are issued a number of tags equivalent to the gear limits established in their fishery and a tag must be affixed to each individual piece of fishing gear to ensure that these limits are not exceeded. Gear tags are currently being used in approximately 40 fisheries managed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, with the majority of tag use in the Newfoundland and Labrador, Gulf, Maritimes and Quebec regions. Tags are used extensively in shellfish trap fisheries, but are also used in net and weir fisheries. In most of these fisheries, industry obtains and pays for these tags; the lobster and crab fisheries are the two exceptions where Fisheries and Oceans Canada is required by regulation to provide (and pay for) the tags.

The shift to industry providing tags in other fisheries began in the mid to late 1990s as Fisheries and Oceans Canada moved from a command and control structure of managing fisheries to a more collaborative approach with fishers and fishing organizations. As fishers took a more active role in the development of integrated fisheries management plans, they also took on more financial responsibility for those aspects of the fishing plan that they felt were necessary management measures. Where industry has taken responsibility for gear tagging programs, it has generally mirrored or integrated the tag supply and distribution systems that Fisheries and Oceans Canada has had in place for the lobster and crab fisheries, with an industry organization replacing Fisheries and Oceans Canada as the primary contact with the tag manufacturer.

However, there are some fisheries where Fisheries and Oceans Canada has continued to provide and pay for gear tags. For crab fisheries, gear tagging was introduced when these fisheries were conducted under a competitive regime and conservation required that fishing efforts and resulting catches be limited through a number of measures, including the control of the number of traps. Crab fisheries have since become quota-based fisheries with each licence holder being assigned an individual catch limit or quota. In association with other measures, such as dockside and at-sea monitoring and logbook reporting, catches are now well controlled and the number of traps is no longer an important factor in controlling catches. However, tagging may continue to be useful for the orderly control of the fishery in which conflicts over gear can arise. The decision as to whether tags would continue to be required for each fishery and how industry would control the ordering and distribution of gear tags is being made in consultation with fish harvesters.

In the case of lobster fisheries, these are still conducted as effort-controlled fisheries and the number of traps each fish harvester is permitted to use is a key conservation measure. Trap tagging is key to controlling the number of traps and would continue to be imposed, in lieu of any other innovative control mechanism, but would be enforced as a licence condition rather than as a specific regulation. Fisheries and Oceans Canada would assist industry in setting up appropriate trap tag supply systems, where required.

Validation tabs

Traditionally, all Canadian vessels used in marine fisheries were required to display a registration plate issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, similar in size and shape to a vehicle licence plate, displaying their Canadian fishing vessel registration (CFV) number. This registration permitted the vessel to be used in a fishery, as authorized under a species harvesting licence issued to an individual, in Atlantic Canada or in respect of a vessel in Western Canada. While there were some commonalities in fisheries management between the east and west coasts, historically, these fisheries were managed as separate entities, which resulted in different licensing regimes.

Validation tabs originated in the Pacific Region where tabs were issued on an annual basis and attached to the CFV plate, to provide visual confirmation that the vessel had the appropriate fish species licence for the current year. A validation tab was a metal equivalent to the annual validation sticker that is currently issued in many jurisdictions and attached to a vehicle licence plate. Beginning in the 1960s, as more Pacific fisheries became of limited entry, different colour validation tabs were created to correspond to each fish species licence. At a time when radio and other communications systems were generally poor or non-existent, these coloured tabs enabled fishery officers to quickly ascertain whether a vessel had the proper licence, without having to physically board each vessel.

In the 1980s, Fisheries and Oceans Canada stopped issuing the CFV plate and adopted a universal vessel marking scheme requiring vessels to display their registration numbers in a large format on the sides and top of the vessel. This new marking scheme was facilitated by technological advances in communications and electronics that enabled fishery officers, on vessels or using aircraft, to verify in real time, either by radio or by computer, that vessels were properly licensed. Due to the unique nature of the Pacific roe herring fishery, (see footnote 1) validation tabs served a dual purpose and were affixed to both the fishing vessel and the fishing nets. However, the use of validation tabs is now redundant and is no longer required for either purpose.

Issues and objectives

There are two issues that would be addressed by the proposed amendments. The first issue of this proposal is that the current practice, whereby the Government pays for and supplies gear tags in some fisheries and not in others, is neither equitable nor consistent with the principle that business participants should supply the equipment to carry out their business.

The second issue of this proposal is that, as a result of advances in computer and information technology, enforcement officers in the Pacific region no longer need to rely on validation tabs to determine whether fishing vessels or roe herring fishing gear are being operated under a valid licence. Therefore, the regulatory requirements for validation tabs are an unnecessary burden on fish harvesters that can be removed.

Government intervention is needed to amend the various regulations that currently require the use of validation tabs and those regulations that require Fisheries and Oceans Canada to supply commercial gear tags and validation tabs.

There are two objectives for this proposal. The first objective is to adopt a fair and consistent approach regarding the supply of marking devices for fishing gear, aligned with the principle that business participants should supply the equipment to carry out their business, by repealing the regulatory requirement to display lobster and crab trap tags supplied by the Government.

The second objective of this proposal is to reduce the burden on fish harvesters in the Pacific region by removing the redundant requirement to display validation tabs.

Description

The proposed amendments would eliminate regulatory provisions in the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985, the Pacific Fishery Regulations, 1993 and the Fishery (General) Regulations requiring the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans or the Department to supply gear markers required for the purpose of ongoing commercial fisheries in Canada.

1. Removal of crab and lobster trap tagging requirements, sections 56 and 62, from the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985 (AFR 1985)

The proposed amendments would repeal sections 56 and 62 of the AFR 1985. These sections currently require that fish harvesters display tags issued by the Minister on lobster and crab traps.

In any fisheries where the industry chooses to continue the use of gear tags, the tagging of lobster and crab traps would be implemented under a structured tagging program through licence conditions authorized under section 22 of the Fishery (General) Regulations as soon as the regulatory provisions are repealed.

2. Removal of validation tab requirements from the Pacific Fishery Regulations, 1993 (PFR 1993) and the Fishery (General) Regulations (FGR)

The proposed amendments would repeal the definition of “validation tab” in the PFR 1993. As well, paragraph 13(4)(c) and section 16 of the PFR 1993 would be repealed as they describe how validation tabs must currently be displayed.

Furthermore, as validation tabs would no longer exist, subitem 6(3) in Part Ⅰ of Schedule II of the PFR 1993 would be repealed, thus eliminating the $10 fee currently prescribed for validation tab replacement.

Finally, section 28 of the FGR would be repealed, and section 29 would be amended as follows to eliminate the reference to validation tabs:

“It is prohibited for any person to display any number or name on fishing gear or on a tag, float or buoy attached to fishing gear that is so similar to a number or name required by section 27 as to be capable of being mistaken for that number or name.”

Consultation

Starting in January and throughout the spring of 2012, Fisheries and Oceans Canada held a number of regular fisheries management consultation meetings during which participants were informed of the decision that gear tags and tabs to identify legitimate commercial fishing gear would no longer be supplied by the Government, and that implementing this decision would require amending current regulations. During these consultation meetings, fish harvesters’ representatives were also informed that crab and lobster licence holders would be responsible for the supply of gear tags in those fisheries where the industry decided that such tags would still be required.

Since early 2012, the Department has been conducting the following consultation activities relevant to the decision no longer to supply gear tags or validation tabs:

• Holding consultation meetings with the commercial fishing industry;
• Contacting First Nations who would be affected by the tag decision to provide them with relevant information and to seek their views; and
• Holding consultation meetings with representatives of fish harvesters who are involved in lobster or crab fisheries on the Atlantic coast.

Overall, the industry and First Nations oppose the elimination of the gear tag requirements for the lobster and crab fisheries, especially for that of lobster, where limits imposed on the number of authorized traps remains a key conservation measure. Most lobster fish harvesters consider that the current tagging program is essential in minimizing gear conflict and ensuring everyone abides by the set trap limits. The decision was seen as inconsistent with sustainability and orderly management of these fisheries. In response, Fisheries and Oceans Canada explained that in a separate process to these proposed regulatory amendments, a similar requirement to display gear tags would be implemented through licence conditions in those fisheries where industry decides that such tags would be required, and where trap limits need to be controlled.

While fish harvesters have acknowledged that they should be responsible for the cost of supplying the required gear markers, as is the case in other fisheries, their preference is that the Government remain responsible for supplying tags free of charge. A coalition of all major fish harvester’s organizations on the Atlantic coast as well as the Eastern Fishermen’s Federation wrote to the Minister to express opposing views in relation to the decision on gear tags. These comments were taken into consideration, but the proposal to remove the requirement to supply tabs and tags is maintained because the proposal is a part of the Government priority under Budget 2012 to return to a balanced budget by 2014–15 through comprehensive deficit reduction measures. Furthermore, it should be noted that fish harvesters would incur costs for gear tags under new licence conditions only in those fisheries where the industry itself decides that the continued use of gear tags would be beneficial. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is working to facilitate the transition to industry-funded tagging programs by helping to develop the protocol for tags and providing the list of approved suppliers to industry.

Regarding the repeal of the requirement to display validation tabs in certain West Coast fisheries, stakeholders are supportive of the proposal as it would eliminate a regulatory requirement that has become unnecessary.

“One-for-One” Rule

The “One-for-One” Rule applies to these amendments and the proposal is considered an “out,” or a reduction of administrative burden on industry, under the Rule.

The proposed amendments would eliminate regulatory requirements in the AFR 1985, PFR 1993 and FGR for fishers to display gear tags and validation tabs supplied by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans or the Department. The total decrease in annualized administrative costs for all affected businesses amounts to $152,453 (constant 2012 dollars, present value base year 2012), and the annualized average administrative cost decrease per business amounts to $12 (constant 2012 dollars, present value base year 2012).

The administrative savings were calculated under the following assumptions:

• — A one-to-one relationship of licence holders to businesses was assumed since the operational policy states that only one licence per species is allowed in the in-shore fishery;
• — The total count of lobster and crab licence holders took into account those licence holders who had both a lobster and a crab licence, so as not to double count those holders in the final total; and
• — A total of 13 158 lobster and crab licence holders and Pacific tab users were identified. Of this total, 13 026 were categorized as being small businesses, defined as any business, including its affiliates, that has fewer than 100 employees (see footnote 2) or between $30,000 and $5 million in annual gross revenues. (see footnote 3) This definition is based on commonly used definitions for what is considered a “small” business in Canada. (see footnote 4) The remaining licence holders (132) were categorized as being medium to large businesses, equalling about 1% of the total of lobster and crab licence holders, and Pacific tab users. The lobster and crab licence holders and Pacific tab users included in this count are active licence holders and users.

Two types of administrative burden were counted as a part of the decrease in cost to the fishing industry. The first administrative burden counted was related to learning about the regulations or the requirements. Since the proposal would repeal provisions related to gear tag and tab requirements, fishing enterprises across Canada would no longer need to familiarize themselves with those provisions. This decrease in burden applies to 100% of stakeholders identified.

The second administrative burden was related to the process to replace gear tags that had been lost. Fishers needing to replace a gear tag must fill out a form, submit the form in person to a Fisheries and Oceans Canada office, and return to their place of business after picking up the replacement tag. As the proposal would repeal the gear tag requirement from the regulations, fishers would no longer go through this process. Given that historically only 10% of fishers replace a gear tag each year, the decrease in administrative burden of this process was calculated based on 10% of the affected stakeholders. This administrative burden only applies to lobster and crab licence holders; Pacific tab users were excluded from the count. It should be noted that there is no administrative burden related to the initial supply of gear tags at the beginning of the fishing season, since tags are automatically delivered to licence holders.

Small business lens

The small business lens does not apply to this proposal, as there would be no increased costs to small businesses as a result of these Regulations, which merely repeal the requirement to display gear tags supplied by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. However, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has been mindful of the impacts on small businesses in developing the new licence regime regarding gear tags. Gear tags supplied by industry would only be required in those fisheries where the industry, in consultation with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, decides that the fishery would benefit from the continuation of a gear tagging regime. In this way, the small businesses that would be affected would decide whether gear tagging would continue, and how the new system would be implemented.

Rationale

Within Canada, the proposal would result in all fisheries being subject to the same policy regarding the supply of gear tags and validation tabs. As well, due to advances in computer and information technology, enforcement officers in the Pacific region no longer need to rely on validation tabs; the amendments would remove an unnecessary burden placed on Pacific tab users.

The proposal is part of the Government priority under Budget 2012 to return to a balanced budget by 2014–15 through comprehensive deficit reduction measures.

A cost-benefit analysis was conducted to estimate the costs and benefits of adjusting regulatory language in the AFR 1985, PFR 1993, and FGR with regard to repealing the requirements to display gear tags and validation tabs supplied by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

The benefits to Fisheries and Oceans Canada would include a projected savings of approximately $473K–$566K per year (for 10 years), or an average of just over $518K per year in savings, if the proposed regulatory amendments regarding fishing tags and tabs were implemented.

In considering the benefits to fish harvesters, it is presumed that fishing preparation time would likely decrease because they would not take the time to place a tag on each of their traps. Removing the requirement for Pacific vessels to obtain and display validation tabs would also decrease the time involved in preparing vessels for the upcoming fishing season, and reduce the necessity to replace damaged or lost vessel tabs. Fish harvesters’ administrative costs would also decrease as a result of the proposed regulatory amendments regarding eliminating the necessity to be familiar with tagging requirements (since there would be none), and the elimination of the administrative process regarding replacing lost or damaged tags.

Potential costs associated with the proposed regulatory amendments may involve the risk of fish harvesters experiencing gear conflicts and processing slowdowns if more traps are used in the fishery than have been used in the past. These risks would be minimal or non-existent especially if industry enforces maximum trap limits. Also, Fisheries and Oceans Canada may be required to attend to various harvester complaints and general fishery discourse since it is widely but incorrectly assumed in the fishery sector that licence fees include the cost of fishing tags when they are provided by the Department.

After review, it is concluded that the overall benefits to both the Department and fish harvesters outweigh the costs of the proposed regulatory amendments.

Implementation, enforcement and service standards

The proposal that the Government no longer supply gear tags and validation tabs would be implemented starting with the 2013 fisheries through a reduction in the expenditures dedicated to the purchase of commercial marking devices such as tags and tabs and by directing officials no longer to order and/or supply such markers to industry. Tag issuance would continue through 2013 until such time as the regulatory requirement to do so is removed. Therefore, Fisheries and Oceans Canada would ensure that any new licence conditions not come into force until the regulations are repealed. Once the tagging prescriptions in these sections are removed, the tagging of lobster and crab traps (in those fisheries where the industry decides to continue the use of gear tags) would be immediately implemented under a structured tagging program through licence conditions authorized under section 22 of the Fishery (General) Regulations and no tags would be purchased by Fisheries and Oceans Canada for subsequent fishing seasons.

Meetings are also taking place with industry representatives to discuss whether tags are needed for the various crab and lobster fisheries and, if so, what kind of system industry can put in place to supply tags which meets specific management requirements. Where tags would be required, implementation would be done through condition of licences, thus enforced by fishery officers like any other licence condition.

The Department will send out letters in fall 2012 to each of the lobster licence holders and crab licence holders to provide them with more details surrounding the Government proposal no longer to supply gear tags, and to inform them of the Department’s future plans regarding tags. In addition to letters being sent to Pacific fish harvesters, a public notice will also be posted in fall 2012 to reach all 4 400 affected vessel owners to inform them that the Minister intends to propose regulatory amendments whereby validation tabs would no longer be required.

Contact

Dawn Pearcey
Director
Resource Management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200 Kent Street
Address Locator 135027
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0E6
Telephone: 613-991-1955
Email: dawn.pearcey@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

PROPOSED REGULATORY TEXT

Notice is given that the Governor in Council, pursuant to section 43 (see footnote a) of the Fisheries Act (see footnote b), proposes to make the annexed Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Made Under the Fisheries Act.

Interested persons may make representations concerning the proposed Regulations within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice. All such representations must cite the Canada Gazette, Part Ⅰ, and the date of publication of this notice, and be addressed to Dawn Pearcey, Director, Resource Management - National, Ecosystems and Fisheries Management, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 200 Kent Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0E6 (tel.: 613-991-1955; fax: 613-954-1407; email: Dawn.Pearcey@dfo-mpo.gc.ca).

Ottawa, November 1, 2012

JURICA ČAPKUN
Assistant Clerk of the Privy Council

REGULATIONS AMENDING CERTAIN REGULATIONS MADE UNDER THE FISHERIES ACT

ATLANTIC FISHERY REGULATIONS, 1985

1. Section 56 of the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985 (see footnote 5) is repealed.

2. Section 62 of the Regulations is repealed.

FISHERY (GENERAL) REGULATIONS

3. The portion of subsection 27(1) of the Fishery (General) Regulations (see footnote 6) before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:

27. (1) It is prohibited for any person to set, operate or leave unattended in the water any fishing gear other than mobile gear or handlines unless the gear is marked in accordance with subsections (2) to (6) with

4. Sections 28 and 29 of the Regulations are replaced by the following:

29. It is prohibited for any person to display any number or name on fishing gear or on a tag, float or buoy attached to fishing gear that is so similar to a number or name required by section 27 as to be capable of being mistaken for that number or name.

PACIFIC FISHERY REGULATIONS, 1993

5. The definition “validation tab” in subsection 2(1) of the Pacific Fishery Regulations, 1993 (see footnote 7) is repealed.

6. Subsection 13(4) of the Regulations is amended by striking out “and” at the end of paragraph (b), by adding “and” at the end of paragraph (a) and by repealing paragraph (c).

7. Section 16 of the Regulations and the heading before it are repealed.

8. Subitem 6(3) of Part Ⅰ of Schedule II to the Regulations is repealed.

COMING INTO FORCE

9. These Regulations come into force on the day on which they are registered.

[45-1-o]