Correspondence on the Fishing Issue

in chronological order

December 20, 2002

Letter from the Gwaii Haanas Tour Operators Association (GHTOA) to the Archipelago Management Board (AMB), regarding fishing in the proposed Marine Conservation Area.

January 7, 2003

The AMB replied to the above letter with three documents listed below:

• Letter from Parks Canada, stating; “…any decision on closures will be made in consultation with residents and stakeholders, including tour operators.”
• Questions and answers regarding Marine Conservation Areas, from Parks Canada.
• Fact sheet on the proposed Gwaii Haanas Marine Conservation Area.

November 2, 2004

Letter from Parks Canada to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).

This letter was written over six months after Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCAs) had been implemented in the waters surrounding Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve.  Up until this point, Parks Canada and the AMB were not aware that RCAs had even been considered.

November 30, 2004

Letter from the GHTOA to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

This begins our involvement with the DFO.

December 7, 2004

Letter of support from Nathan Cullen (MP, Skeena-Bulkley Valley) to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

February 3, 2005

First reply from the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

March 2005

Members of the Gwaii Haanas Tour Operators Association are dissatisfied with the Minister's reply.  As a result, we created this website in order to promote and record our ongoing, determined efforts to resolve this critical issue.

We remain confident that our government will realize that a reasonable solution can be reached without compromising the GHTOA’s and DFO’s shared goal of preserving fish stocks.

We have brought this website to the attention of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans as well as other government agencies, including BC's Minister of Small Business and Economic Development.  

April 12, 2005

Reply from BC's Minister of Small Business and Economic Development.