Ottawa delays meetings on elver fishery quota changes amid criticism

After a barrage of criticism over a plan to transfer baby eel quotas away from longtime licence holders, the federal Fisheries Division is delaying data classes on the pilot venture.

In December, Ottawa introduced a plan to redistribute 27 per cent of the overall Maritime catch of about 10,000 kilograms of baby eels — often called elvers — from 9 industrial licence holders to 120 individuals who would function on their very own.

Every of the 120 recipients — who’ve labored for the industrial licence holders — would acquire the suitable to scoop 22 kilograms of the tiny, translucent eels from rivers this spring.

1:38Maritime eel and elver harvesters involved with proposed quotas from DFO

Nonetheless, fishers have told The Canadian Press they might relatively stay staff of the longtime licence holders than be pitted towards them and face chaos over how they might retailer and promote their catch.

The federal Fisheries Division says in an e-mail that the knowledge session deliberate for Jan. 21 is postponed as the federal government continues to guage feedback on the proposal.

The e-mail to the elver fishers says the division is dedicated to contacting the fishers “as quickly as a choice is obtained” on the way forward for the fishery.