INTERIM: Fisheries Policy

Whereas: the control and management of Canada's Fishing Industry has been poorly developed, maintained and grossly mismanaged for many years under different Governments and Ministries,

Whereas: the needs of the Canadian inshore fishermen and the Canadian fishing industry itself have been undermined for the benefit of foreign interests and to the detriment of the Fishing Industry and the Canadian People and,

Whereas: the quantity and quality of marine life in and around Canada has been devastated by over-fishing, pollution and illegal fishing and,

Whereas: the needs of Canadians who rely on marine life of all forms for sustenance and survival must be paramount and take precedence over foreign interests. Atlantic Canadians, First Nations, British Columbians and peoples in the Great Lakes have relied on fishing for sustenance of life and as a means of livelihood for at least hundreds of years. Newfoundland was the first colonized area of Canada from Europe, and its people have relied on the fishing industry for well over five hundred years. Its people have an intimate knowledge of the fisheries and have for all these centuries maintained a healthy lifestyle and balance with that once rich resource. Up until recent decades while Ottawa has had control over the fisheries, that industry thrived and provided income and food for its people. The other Atlantic Provinces have also benefited from the same industry in like manner also for many centuries and have themselves, proven to be worthy stewards.

The Aboriginal and First Nations Peoples have also had a healthy and balanced relationship with the resources of Canada's oceans, seas and waterways for uncounted centuries and have themselves sustained and managed a healthy industry and lifestyle derived from this rich resource.

Whereas: the various fish stocks in Canadian waters have been devastated by foreign and domestic over-fishing, mismanagement by the Governments at the Federal levels, illegal foreign fishing, pollution and other relevant activities. It is clear that the centralized approach of managing the Fisheries as a whole from Ottawa or any other centralized area has not worked and now needs to be revised with a new vision and plan.

Therefore: let it be resolved that the Canadian Action Party will take progressive, sensible, clear and concise steps to restoring the fish stocks and the resources of those stocks to the rightful owners -Canadians. We would divide the jurisdiction of the Fisheries into four Regions which can then be sub-divided into Zones:

1. The Atlantic region (which may comprise of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec and Newfoundland & Labrador as zones) which would encompass the geographic region of northern Labrador ( at about 60degrees 23'43.66" N by 64 degrees 23'57.64" W to 60 degrees 33'43.06" N by 64 degrees 04'24.26" W) to the southernmost area of Nova Scotia and all waters belonging to Canada within.
2. The Arctic Region (which may comprise of Nunavut, North West Territories and the Yukon Territory as zones), which would encompass the region spanning north and west of the Northern Labrador ( at about 60degrees 23'43.66" N by 64 degrees 23'57.64" W to 60 degrees 33'43.06" N by 64 degrees 04'24.26" W) to the Northern tip of the Yukon Territory (at 141degrees 0'00" meridian out to the 200 nautical mile mark) and all waters belonging to Canada within including the Northwest Passage.
3. The Pacific Region or Zone (which would probably have British Columbia as it's Zone) , which includes all waterways that is currently agreed upon between Canada and the United States as belonging to Canada on the west coast of Canada,
4. The Great Lakes Region (which could allocate its zones by the individual Great Lakes which lie inside the Canadian Border), which would encompass all the Great Lakes to the mouth of the St. Lawrence River where the river enters the coastal waters.

These four regions would each have a governing body (comprised of zones) - hereafter called Fishery and Oceans Regions collectively, or by their Regional names (as stated in the previous paragraph) -whose mandate would be to garner a comprehensive understanding and respect of the fisheries in each respective areas, by involving groups and individuals from both the private sector and public sector. These Fishery and Oceans Regions will manage their respective Regions and Zones while ensuring not to exclude Aboriginal and Native Peoples (who have traditional land claims in the area), fisher persons, the business sector, marine biologists, and the common people who have the right to fish for food. There must be equal representation sitting on each governing body from each vested group including at least: First Nations and Aboriginal Peoples (who have traditional land claims in the area), Fisher persons, Fish Plant Owners/Operators and employees, Citizens who fish for food, Marine Biologists, Recreational Fishing groups, Fishing Unions and any other group within Canada who may have direct impact on the outcome of the respective Fishery and Oceans Regions.

These Fishery and Oceans Regions will be allowed to set quotas for commercial fishing and the exports and imports of marine commodities. They will be mandated to set fishing end/start and extension dates for the various species of harvested marine life including the seal fishery. They will have the right and power to set moratoriums on various fish and marine species should stocks fall below a healthy and sustainable level, while giving precedence to domestic groups/interests over foreign interests. They will have the ability to set fines to domestic and foreign violators deemed acceptable for each region/zone. They will not prevent food fisheries of the general masses for the purpose of harvesting fish and other marine species for sustenance while any commercial fishing continues. The rights of the general masses and their abilities to harvest food from the marine environment must take precedence over any commercial activities be it foreign and/or domestic.

Therefore, in terms of access to fish stocks, the priority must be: first the general population who rely upon fish and marine life for food and sustenance of life. Second are the domestic industries which may include commercial fisheries, outfitters and guides and other such groups. Finally foreign groups may be granted access only after domestic interests and groups have first access, depending of course on fish stocks.

These Fishery and Oceans Regions will also have the power and jurisdiction to charge and fine any individual and/or organization, whether foreign or domestic for pollution of the respective waters and waterways.

Also let it be known that the Canadian Action Party will not allow the Fisheries to become a "bargaining chip" for foreign deals and trades with other nations. The Canadian People has the undisputed right to the resources of Canada first, before any nation, corporation or other entity outside the parameters of Canadian Citizenship.

These Fishery and Oceans Regions will make a public report Nationwide at least every five years on the development, management and status of the respective Fisheries Regions/Zones. These reports will also be made available to any citizen of Canada upon request in any form of media including hardcopy or electronic forms of media. An annual report will also be brought to the House of Commons for the MPs to discuss, debate and critique for the purpose of transparency and suggested improvement.